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VIA HEALTH NEWS:

When you think of October images of pumpkins, spider webs, ghosts, ghouls, and goblins often spring to mind. However, there is one uninvited ghoul that lingers throughout this month waiting to claim another victim: Breast Cancer. In 2005 alone, there were over 188,000 people (both men and women) diagnosed with breast cancer and over 41,000 deaths from the disease. Instead of October being the month of scare tactics and spooky decorations, this year make October a month to wear something new, a pink ribbon to support breast cancer awareness, survivors living with it or who are in remission, and those who weren’t so lucky.

Although breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer (the first being skin cancer) among women and being the 7th leading cause of death, males are also susceptible, as twenty men in North Carolina have recently found out. (The twenty had been ingested the same water from a Marine Corps base decades ago, which may help form a possible link to the disease.)

Cancer doesn’t discriminate as one of the stricken men, Mike Partain, said in a statement to CNN, “…Some of us have college degrees, some of us have blue-collar jobs. We are all over the country. And what is our commonality? Our commonality is that we all at some point in our lives drank the water…. Go figure.” Further proof that breast cancer can strike at anytime, awareness is needed more now than ever.

Instead of just seeing pink items touting breast cancer on shelves this October, you may also see supporters all over the country marching for the cause. To find a cure, thousands of men, women, and children around the United States will be joining breast cancer walks throughout the month and wearing pink proudly. Join a walk or donate to one today in your area by visiting the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month website. Large-scale walks are the Breast Cancer 3-day and the Avon Walk but there are also numerous opportunities to help support your community’s well-being.

If you or someone close to you has recently been diagnosed, you can visit the American Cancer Society’s website for resources in helping everyone affected deal with the diagnosis and treatment options. One of the most important parts of dealing with cancer (or any type of disease) is to stay positive; another is to have a great support system.

Over the next 31 days, don’t be afraid of what cancer might do to you, and take advantage of what you can do for cancer. Even the National Football League (NFL) is helping out this season with over 100 football players taking part in breast cancer awareness by wearing pink accessories on the field, including putting their best feet forward in a pair of neon cleats. When it comes to fighting breast cancer and spreading awareness, it looks like wearing pink can be manly and feminine.

Read more here.