October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 85 percent of those diagnosed have no family history of cancer. It’s the most common cancer among women, among nearly every racial and ethnic group. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 7,510 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 alone. Approximately 1,090 of these women will die from this disease. Men also get breast cancer- in the United States approximately 2,550 men will be diagnosed this year.
The Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation offers many resources, including lists of support groups, information about financial resources, and phone and online support. The Every Woman’s Life program, which is a part of the Virginia Department of Health, is a public health program that helps uninsured, low income women gain access to free breast and cervical cancer screening services. The National Breast Cancer Foundation is giving away breast health guides to anyone who requests one for Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Here are some titles available at JMRL for more information about breast cancer:
Breast Cancer Clear & Simple: All Your Questions Answered by the American Cancer Society
The New Generation Breast Cancer Book by Elisa Port
The Whole Food Guide for Breast Cancer Survivors by Edward Bauman