Where’s Your Pink? Be ready to don your pink during October for
Breast Cancer Awareness Month October 3, 2011 | Heather
Burchfield Most of us have been touched by breast cancer in some
way, especially since 12 percent of American women will develop
invasive breast cancer during their lifetime according to the
National Cancer Institute. Some of us may even know men who have
developed breast cancer. (Yes, men can get breast cancer too,
but it is rare.) Even though the root cause of developing breast
cancer is not always known, there are preventative measures that
can be taken. Dr. Ingrid Mayer, a medical oncologist at the
Vanderbilt Breast Center, said that leading a healthy lifestyle
is key to prevention. She recommended maintaining a healthy
weight and exercise consistently for about three hours a week if
possible. She also said to avoid hormone replacement therapy as
well as daily alcohol consumption. While performing those
preventive measures is a good idea, when your body begins
producing cancerous cells,