October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
By Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna
During the month of October, you probably have seen firefighters wearing “pink” shirts. No, it’s not a uniform change or to look pretty, but to show support and bring awareness about breast cancer says Fire Chief Sam DiGiovanna.
Breast cancer that affects roughly 124 per every 100,000 women in the United States a year. Breast cancer like most other cancers occurs when cells divide and grow out of control. Most breast cancers grow slowly, so that by the time a lump may be felt, the cancer may have been there for as long as ten years. Breast cancer can spread to the lymph nodes under the arm or if the tumor metastasizes can spread to the bones, lungs, liver, or brain.
Most people are now familiar with the pink ribbons associated with breast cancer awareness and can be seen most prevalent in October during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Every October, the nation observes National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
It does not affect women only. Breast cancer is a disease that affects both men and women and is among the most common cancers. According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, 1 in 8 women will develop invasive breast cancer in her lifetime. Next year, new breast cancer diagnoses are expected to number more than 200,000 for women and more than 2,000 for men.
Chief DiGiovanna asks all of us to raise awareness of preventative measures so you and your loved ones can beat the odds!
Note: The information in this article was compiled from various sources. These suggestions are not a complete list of every preventative or loss control measure. The information is not intended to replace additional safety manuals or the advice of another qualified professional(s). We make no guarantee of results from use of this information. We assume no liability in connection with the information nor the suggestions made.
