Nancy G. Brinker, founder of Susan G. Komen for the Cure and Prevention's guest blogger for October, on how her organization is pushing for early detection:


At Susan G. Komen, we believe women should have access to the early detection screening tools that may save their lives. In most cases when we talk about early detection screening tools, we are referring to access to a screening mammogram. Yet for women with dense breasts-that is, breasts that have a higher level of tissue compared to fat-traditional mammography alone may not be effective in detecting tumors. This is because tissues and tumors both show up as white on a mammogram, and when you have a lot of dense breast tissue, an abnormality can be hard to spot, even to trained eyes.

6 habits that can save your life

Dense breasts are fairly typical in premenopausal women. If you have dense breasts--and one-third or more of women over age 40 do--pay attention. More than 50 studies have been published highlighting that women with

I hope you are one of those few fortunate people who has never found themselves in the waiting room of a hospital, anxiously counting the minutes for the doctor to arrive with the results of your biopsy or the blood tests of a loved one.

I hope you have never heard the word "cancer" come out of the mouth of your family physician, suddenly changing your understanding of the word and shaking your whole existence.

I am not in that group of fortunate people who have been untouched by cancer, and I think it's important to take time to recognize Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I looked on Delicious, a Yahoo! social bookmarking site, and noticed there are currently 21,504 bookmarks saved on breast cancer. This is obviously a topic dear to many hearts.

There are many ways we can help like visiting the Breast Cancer Site to help raise money for mammograms and other programs. And for the month of October, you can turn pink. Join the Yahoo! community and share your reasons for joining in the conversation.

The good news is the vast majority of women will not develop breast cancer in their lifetime - 88% based on data from the National Cancer Institute. But some face a higher risk than others, including women with one or more first degree relatives (mothers, daughters, and sisters) who have developed the disease.

Breast cancer develops from mutations in cancer-associated genes, and a few of those gene mutations are associated with a family history of breast cancer. Can anything be done to reduce that risk?

A major meta-analysis (a study pooling data from multiple studies) by the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors in Breast Cancer set out to quantify the increase in risk when one or more first degree relatives have been diagnosed with breast cancer and determine what factors, if any, can influence that risk. It turns out, among women with one or more first degree relatives with breast cancer, the risks vary by several factors, and some are controllable.

Number of

I manage to get together with seven of my best gal pals from my co-ed days about once a year. With the eight of us sitting around a table, I am reminded of the staggering breast cancer stat: one in eight women will be diagnosed with the disease in her lifetime. Three of these noisy lovable ladies have mothers who have had the disease, which unfortunately ups their odds even more. We know that genetics increases the risk for the disease, but there are lifestyle choices you can make to lower your risk of getting breast cancer.

• Alcohol: Having a glass of wine a day may be good for the heart, but not the breast. Studies have found that drinking one to two servings of alcohol, red wine included, increases a woman's chances of developing the disease by 10 percent. It is highly recommended that you limit your alcohol intake to lower your risk, so remember to stop after one glass ladies!
• Healthy Weight: Breast cancer is fueled by hormones, and those hormones like to hide out

Fab stylish finds that fund breast cancer non-profit organizations.

- Jill Jordan, BettyConfidential.com

Pink brightens up any complexion. Wearing pink doesn't only give you a glow, it helps a variety of non-profits that promote awareness, detection and care for women dealing with breast cancer.

Read The Halloween Candy Trap

Check out our 12 picks to look great all year long while empowering women everywhere.

Lingerie

1. Lula Lu Petite Lingerie's pink Kaylen convertible bra and bikini bottoms (bra $50, bottoms $26, LulaLu.com). Made specifically for sizes 30AA-36AA and 30A-36A, the lace trimmed convertible bra and matching panties will look fab no matter what the weather. Lula Lu Lingerie is donating a portion of sales of the Kaylen set sales towards the Save the Tatas Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation.

2. Affinitas Intimates Samantha half-padded bra ($28, herroom.com). This sexy, lacey creation fits cup sizes from 32B to 38D. The half-padded bra has

When calculating your personal breast cancer risk, consider any factors that may increase your risk of developing the disease. While certain factors may increase your risk more than others, the National Cancer Institute estimates that 5 to 10 percent of all women with breast cancer had a strong family history of the disease. Although there is no absolute way to determine if you will get breast cancer, being aware of the risk factors and making some lifestyle changes may help reduce the risk of developing the disease.

See also Simple Ways You Can Promote Breast Cancer Awareness

Step 1

Take into account your age, race and ethnicity. Although being a woman is your greatest risk factor, the chance of getting breast cancer increases as you grow older. Breast cancer occurs most often in women over the age of 50. Race can be a risk factor as well. While fewer black women in the U.S. get breast cancer than women from other racial backgrounds, according to a study published in "Breast Cancer

Knowledge is power, so arm yourself with up-to-date answers to your most perplexing questions about breast cancer.
by Cara Birnbaum


Virgil Bastos
Q. How do I know if I'm at high risk for developing breast cancer?

A. Anyone with an immediate family member who was diagnosed with breast cancer before the age of menopause or with multiple relatives suffering from the disease is at high risk; you should start getting mammograms at age 30 or younger, depending on your case. If you're not at high risk, begin at 40. Calculate your own chances by using the Breast Cancer Prevention tool, a short questionnaire at cancer.gov/bcrisktool.

Related: Portraits of Breast Cancer

Q. Do birth-control pills increase my risk?

A. Any links between the Pill and breast cancer appear to be weak. While estrogen exposure can potentially increase your risk, today's birth-control pills contain far less of the hormone than earlier versions. However, women who take oral contraceptives in their mid- to late 40s to help mitigate

It's October and that means everyone is thinking pink. Prevention asked Ambassador Nancy G. Brinker, founder and CEO of Susan G. Komen for the Cure, to share her deeply personal story of how one of the county's most powerful health advocacy programs began.

Suzy died August 4, 1980.

She was thirty-six years old. Her children were ten and six. Mommy was with her. I was on my way, but Daddy met me at the airport, his eyes rimmed in red, his mouth drawn down to a tight line of self-control.

"She's gone," he said. There was a shock wave of agony, relief, guilt, and sorrow. Then a strange state of white noise settled in my head. With a numb efficiency, Mommy and I ordered flowers and discussed appropriate readings with the rabbi. We agreed that Suzy personified Solomon's good woman in the Song of Songs.

I am a rose of Sharon, I am a lily of the valleys.

The casket was to be closed during Suzy's funeral, but there was a private viewing for the family before the service. The absolute