October means falling leaves, jack o'lanterns and, for women AND men (who also get breast cancer), it should signal National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Here are statistics that should make you stop and think....

• Since 1971 more women in the US have died from breast cancer than all of the American men who lost their lives in World War I and II, the Korean conflict, and Vietnam!
• Every three minutes a woman in the US is diagnosed with breast cancer
• Every twelve minutes a woman dies from breast cancer
• One women in eight will be diagnosed with breast cancer
• More than 180,000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in the next 12 mos.
• Men are also vulnerable to breast cancer

The good news is that the current 92 percent cure rate can be increased significantly with early detection and treatment. Your role includes:

• 1. monthly breast examinations (7-10 days after your period begins or, after menopause, on the first day of the month)
• 2. yearly mammograms after age 40
• 3. clinical exams by a health professional every year after age 40 and every 3 years before age 40.

Meantime, know your risk factors. The uncontrollable factors include:

• gender
• age
• previous cancer
• family history
• early onset of menstruation (before age 12)
• late menopause (after age 50)
• late child bearing (first child after age 30)

You can do something about the controllable factors

• for exercise: exercise regularly
• for weight: maintain a healthy weight; avoid crash diets
• for diet: balance, variety, lower in fat and added sugar and high in fiber
• for emotional health: create healthy support systems; learn to express emotions and feelings appropriately; avoid stress
• environment: avoid hazardous toxins and taking herbal products prepared from products imported from countries where plants may have been treated with pesticides.