We think about the devastation of breast cancer all the time. My mom died after her third bout with breast cancer. She turned 80 years old on her birthday in 2004 and passed away in the New Mexico home of my brother, hours after I got there to say goodbye.

So, I think about it all the time.

As my friend, who suffers from bladder cancer, said today, “Any cancer is devastating.” After asking why such an emphasis on breast cancer, I opined it was the fact that so many women (and some men) get it and the cure rate is high only if it is detected early. And that’s the rub. Breast cancer would have a higher survival rate if women took steps to be on the lookout for it.

According to the Breast Cancer Foundation:

While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go and need your help!

While most people are aware of breast cancer, many forget to take the steps to have a plan to detect the disease in its early stages and encourage others to do the same. We have made a lot of progress but still have a long way to go and need your help! When breast cancer is detected early (localized stage) the 5 year survival rate is 98%.

I think my mom did pretty good. The first time she was diagnosed with breast cancer, it was 1963. They didn’t know much about the disease and wound up nearly debilitating her. She survived another 35 years before it hit again. The doctors used some pretty amazing technology to give her another six years of life. That took a lot of courage, in my opinion.

We are going pink for the entire month. We hope you will join us in getting the word out. Don’t be afraid. My wife gets her mammogram every year. She says it hurts like hell but she will gladly take the pain for the reassurance she receives from her doctor’s report. For more information on formulating your own plan, go to the National Breast Cancer Awareness website.