| Breast cancer is an efficient killer. Normally, | | | | - Late menopause (after the age of 55) |
| overwhelming readers with statistics is a sure fire | | | | - Taking hormone replacement therapy |
| way to get them to tune out. But in this case, I | | | | - Delayed childbirth (after the age of 30 or none at |
| believe it is warranted. In 2009, 23,200 women in | | | | all) |
| Canada were diagnosed with breast cancer and 5,300 | | | | - Never breastfed |
| of them died from it. In any given week, that's 100 | | | | - Being over weight As with any form of cancer, |
| women dying from this disease. Breast cancer has a | | | | early detection is the key to surviving. Finding the |
| very impressive kill rate of 4%. For males, the | | | | cancer, early on when it is small, makes it easier to |
| number of diagnosed cases was much lower at 180 | | | | remove completely. Being proactive in your |
| but 50 of those were fatal, an even more impressive | | | | breast-screening program is vital. Examining yourself |
| kill rate. This is a disease that affects everyone and | | | | on a regular basis allows you to become more familiar |
| it's time to fight back. | | | | with the normal look and feel of your breast, making |
| Education is our best weapon against this disease. | | | | it easier to detect anomalies in the future. Although |
| There are risk factors that we can identify and | | | | self exams are important, they should in no way |
| precautions to take. Here are some of the risk | | | | replace regular clinical check ups or mammograms. |
| factors for this type of cancer (although having them | | | | Please download this breast self exam card to |
| does not mean you will get it): | | | | further assist you. |
| - Being a woman (99% of all cases are women) | | | | Please visit the Breast Cancer Society of Canada to |
| - Your risks increase as you get older | | | | learn more about how you can donate, educate, |
| - Breast cancer history (either yourself or family) | | | | participate, and celebrate. |
| - Early menstruation (before the age of 12) | | | | |