From ribbons to a Race for the Cure, you’re likely to see a lot of pink for breast cancer awareness.
October is breast cancer awareness month–a time for organizations like Susan G. Komen to teach men and women the importance of the deadly disease.
“Our campaign this year for breast cancer awareness month is less talk, more action,” said Sophie Sureau of the Northeast Ohio chapter of Susan G. Koman. “We don’t have a cure, and although people can live with breast cancer, it’s a very, very deadly disease.”
Research shows 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. Ohio is the fourth worst state for breast cancer.
“It’s horrendous. Horrendous,” Sureau said. “People in Ohio die more of breast cancer than pretty much anywhere else in the United States. We can’t have more people locally die of breast cancer like we are right now, especially when we have the mecca of healthcare in this region.”
Sureau said women over 40 and those with a family history of breast cancer are most at-risk, though young women and even men can get breast cancer too. Early detection is key to survival.
“With early detection, you can survive with the disease and 98 percent is the survivor rate,” she said. “If you, unfortunately are diagnosing it too late and the breast cancer has metastasized already beyond the breast, 23 percent is the survivor rate.”
Sureau says men and women of all ages should talk to their physician, eat right, exercise and get a regular health screening.