In October we entered the last quarter of 2018 and so begins the season of excessive carbs and calories. AHHH! Good times! But October is also Breast cancer awareness month.

Since awareness is defined asconcern about and well-informed interest in a particular situation or development. I’ll let the focus of this blog bring a little more “awareness” to breast cancer statistics than before and list a few non-profit charities that are available where you can donate.

Apart from skin cancer, breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States. 1 in 8 will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Breast cancer death rates are higher for women in the U.S. than those for any other cancer, besides lung cancer.

In women under 45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women. Overall, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer. For Asian, Hispanic, and Native-American women, the risk of developing and dying from breast cancer is lower.

There has been a steep decline in breast cancer deaths since 1989 this being due to improved treatment and early detection through mammography.  However, we have yet to see a decline in the number of new cases of breast cancer each year.

How can you help?

Here’s a list and links to several non-profit charities you can donate.

Support Breastcancer.org

So this all sounds good, right?

Now that I’m aware of breast cancer in and around me what exactly do I do now?

Well, to be completely honest, you can donate to research to help find a cure. But maybe financially you aren’t able to do that? Ok, no worries. Being aware can even include something as simple as just being mindful. Cancer survivors use gym facilities just like anyone else, and many of them aren’t walking around with bald heads like one might expect to see. When working out in your local gym consider that the person using the machine after you just might be someone recovering from surgery or still dealing with neuropathy from a previous surgery. Re-rack those weights, clean off the machine, hold open a door, or even just smile at a stranger. It’s the little things…because sometimes showing kindness is the ultimate form of being TUFF.