Wear pink, raise breast cancer awareness Published Sept. 27, 2011 By Staff Sgt. Kali L. Gradishar 39th Air Base Wing Public Affairs INCIRLIK AIR BASE, Turkey -- It's time for people dig out their pink apparel as the start of October also marks the beginning of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While breast cancer and raising awareness is a year-round battle, October is set aside as the designated month to cover oneself in pink -- the campaign's dedicated color -- sometimes in shirts carrying humorous and well-known catch phrases such as "Save second base," or "No, they're not real. Breast cancer took my old ones." Many men and women will stampede through streets to run or walk in support of the cause or rise to the stages to talk about prevention, detection and treatment. Breast cancer, the most common cancer in women and second highest cause of cancer deaths in women, is estimated to affect nearly 200,000 women in the U.S. each year, according to the American Cancer Society. More than 40,000 will die. For men, approximately 1,700 will be diagnosed and about 450 will die. One of the most important tools in fighting against breast cancer is information. Learning about prevention, risk factors and detecting breast cancer at an early stage puts people ahead of the game. As with most cancers, detecting at the earliest stages increases the survival rate. Breast cancer is measured from stage zero through four. In stage zero, abnormal cells are still confined to the ducts or lobules of the breast and have not yet spread to the surrounding breast tissue. In stage four, other organs and tissues such as the liver, lungs, brain and lymph nodes can be affected by the cancerous cells. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, the five-year survival rate ranges from 100 percent at stage zero to 16 percent at stage four -- driving home the point that information and early detection, are imperative to breast cancer survival. While there are signs and symptoms of breast cancer, such as a change in breast or nipple feeling and look, or nipple discharge, an early detection plan is important to maintain a personal awareness. The NBCF recommends the following detection plan: 20 years old and older - Perform breast self-exams and note any signs of change. 20-39 years old - Schedule a clinical breast exam every three years. 40 years old - Have a baseline mammogram and annual clinical breast exams. 40-49 years old - Have a mammogram every one to two years, depending on previous findings. 50 years old and older - Have an annual mammogram. Some factors that lead to a greater risk of breast cancer according to the National Cancer Institute include: - Older women, and women who were overweight or obese after menopause - A personal or family health history of breast cancer, especially if the family member was diagnosed before age 50 - Variances in reproductive and menstrual history, such as older women having a first child, women who have never had children, women who had their first menstrual period before age 12 and women who went through menopause after age 55 - Lack of physical activity - Alcohol consumption Women of all ages, ethnicities and lifestyles are advised to regularly conduct breast self-exams. White women, however, are diagnosed more often than other women. In addition to the many women, families are also affected by breast cancer. Editor's note: Information from the American Cancer Society, National Breast Cancer Foundation and National Cancer Institute websites was used in this article.