This is random but I had the day off yesterday and was taking a break from my "To Do's" for the day (running, car wash, take out garbage/recycling, etc) and sat down and watched Oprah (because it was the only thing on TV). Much to my surprise, I became that person - sitting on my couch crying at 4pm on a Tuesday - as they did their annual Breast Cancer Awareness Month kick-off. The founder and sister of Susan G. Komen of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation was on the show along with countless other survivors and current fighters of the disease all who had one common goal: AWARENESS.
They talked about how when Susan G. Komen was diagnosed with Breast Cancer over 30 years ago, uttering the word "breast" was not OK, there were no "800" numbers to call for patient support and the pink ribbon had no significance. Today, they have given over a billion dollars to cancer and patient research. One Billion.
Just 6 years after the founding of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society started Team in Training - a way for me and many others to learn and make a difference in the fight against another crippling type of cancer...blood cancers.
My hope is to do my little part...and keep spreading the awareness.
1) So in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, if you are woman (or man with women in his life who he cares about), please make sure you know or pass along this information about how to do a self-breast examination: http://www.komen.org/bse/, http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp
2) And, if you aren't familiar with Leukemia and Lymphoma, I've pasted a little information below, but do you part and learn what about this disease so you too can be part of the solution. And, get registered in the bone marrow registry.
3) And, as you know, I running the Honolulu Marathon December 14th. Thanks again for your donations...I am up to 11 miles and am excited to also be participating in the upcoming Nike Women's Half Marathon on October 19th!
Did you know? Leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes are cancers that originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissues. They are considered to be related cancers because they involve the uncontrolled growth of cells with similar functions and origins. The diseases result from an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell, which becomes abnormal (malignant) and multiplies continuously. The accumulation of malignant cells interferes with the body's production of healthy blood cells.
# of New Cases this year: An estimated 138,530 people in the United States will be diagnosed with leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma in 2008. New cases of leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma and myeloma account for 9.6 percent of the 1,437,180 new cancer cases diagnosed in the United States this year.
# Living with the disease: An estimated 894,543 Americans are currently living with leukemia, Hodgkin and non-Hodgkin lymphoma, myeloma and myelodysplastic syndromes.
If we had a cure we could prevent: The deaths of an estimated 52,910 people in the United States this year. These blood cancers will account for nearly 9.4 percent of the deaths from cancer in 2008 based on the 565,650 total cancer-related deaths. Every ten minutes, another child or adult is expected to die from leukemia, lymphoma or myeloma. This statistic represents nearly 145 people each day, or six people every hour. Leukemia causes more deaths than any other cancer among children and young adults under the age of 20.
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