Breast Cancer Awareness

Standing on the affirmation that there is nothing, there is no one, stronger than LOVE!

The month of October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We wear the pink ribbon, we walk and we talk. Let’s talk about being aware. Let’s talk about standing up to anything that comes against us, including Breast Cancer. Here are some facts:

Facts About Breast Cancer In The United States

• One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

• Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women.

• Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death among women.

• Each year it is estimated that over 246,660 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

• breast cancer in men is rare, an estimated 2,600 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and approximately 440 will die each year.

• On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and 1 woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes.

• Over 2.8 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States today.

Now here are some facts about us:

According to Sisters Network, Inc….

• Breast Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among African American Women

• More than 27,000 new cases of breast cancer occur each year among African American Women

• Among younger women under age 45, the mortality rate is higher in African Americans than in whites.

Sisters, we need to pay attention to these numbers. I don’t know anyone who doesn’t know someone whose life has been touched by the hand of this disease. Some of our most precious loved ones have been taken away. But many more of us live to fight another day.

If we don’t love us, who will? If we don’t take care of us, who will? If we don’t see the need for monthly self-breast exams and annual mammograms how will we know? Just like most things in life, when it comes to this quiet but deadly menace, education is the key to the fight! The more we know, the more we grow and the stronger our purpose becomes. We need to teach our daughters, leading by our example. Our bodies are precious, the temple of our Spirit and we should honor the temple in all that we do. We must strive to be healthy, strong, pure in heart and proud to live in the bodies we have been blessed with. We need to encourage older women who may not give the same medical attention to their bodies as younger women because in our culture, it hasn’t always been possible. Now is the time to take back everything that has been stolen from us and that includes our human right to good health and good health care. Let’s make our presence known and our voices heard during the month of October and every month after that. Let’s stand strong with those who may be in present battle and celebrate those who have won the victory! We are survivors! We are warriors! We are strengthening our black females out of LOVE.

If you know someone in the battle, call them today. If you know someone who has won the fight, call them today. If someone dear to your heart fought until they could fight no longer, walk a mile for them today. Make a donation for them today. Encourage someone else for them today. Love someone else FOR THEM TODAY! There is nothing stronger than LOVE.

We are ~sobfol~