October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

As some of you already know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month here in the US. For the past several years, my brother has participated in annual fundraising activities to support research into the causes, treatment, and cure of breast cancer. This year, he's participating in the Komen Race for the Cure, and you can donate in support of his efforts here.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but as many of you know, I have other reasons to be aware of the disease, all year long.

Brother,  Mom, and Me

I don't know how old we all were in that picture, but I know that my mom was 45 when she died of breast cancer. I turned 18 that summer, 4 months after her death. Half a lifetime later, in April of this year, I had my first mammogram, after a doctor thought she'd found something in my right breast. I got lucky -- it was a false alarm, and I celebrated my birthday this year with extra joy.

Tonight, it occurred to me that I've now had more birthdays without my mom than I had with her.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. If you have reservations about the Komen Foundation, or would just prefer to help fund breast cancer research through another organization, there are plenty of ways to contribute to the cause. Please consider making a gift to the National Cancer Institute, the American Cancer Society, or the group of your choice.