Hello, and we hope you’re enjoying
October, National Down Syndrome Awareness Month. Each week, we celebrate
the abilities of people with Down syndrome at Pathfinder Produce by empowering
people on-the-job and providing them with opportunities to develop and
fine-tune work skills in community-based work opportunities. Come visit us this
Thursday, from noon to 5 p.m. to say hello to our friendly and courteous staff
and check out all the great produce on sale!
BIG NEWS: At our market on Thursday, October 24, we’ll be
partnering with local volunteers to help raise awareness for National Breast Cancer Awareness month too! Ten percent of our market proceeds for our Fall
Harvest event will be contributed to Team NYCM in support of breast cancer
awareness and research. Our market team is coming up with some other great
promotions as well: There will be two drawings for Pathfinder Produce gift
certificates, special discounts on Awareness month baked goods, and Chef Eric
will be serving up some Healthy PINK smoothie samples.
***
I admit that I like to watch social media posts
with little kids doing what little kids do best … playing, laughing, and making
adults laugh through their silly behavior and outlandish quips. One recent video that had me
chuckling was one showing kids’ unfiltered reactions to the word ‘boobies’,
brassieres, store displays, and so forth.
But as it’s National Breast Cancer Awareness
Month, it’s an appropriate time to encourage everyone to take care of
themselves and to be aware of the signs
of breast cancer. I would dare venture that most people know someone who
has had breast cancer; I’ve had several friends overcome it but it’s still a
worrisome diagnosis that impacts all aspects of family life. It too often
remains a fatal disease.
Men
too have mammary tissues and can also develop breast cancer. So it’s
important for everyone to know the signs and do regular self-exams.
The following link offers guidance on the ages when women should begin annual
mammograms. If you see or feel a lump developing, don’t put off going to
get it checked out. The sooner you begin treatment, the better your chance of
making a recovery.
These are some stats shared from the website,
breastcancer.org:
· About 1 in 8
U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer.
· In 2019, an
estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected in US women,
along with 62,930 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer.
· About 2,670
new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected in US men 2019; a man’s lifetime
risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 883.
· Breast cancer
incidence rates in the U.S. began decreasing in the year 2000: One theory is
that the decrease was in part through the reduced use of hormone replacement
therapy (HRT) by women after a 2002 study linked HRT to cancer.
· About 41,760
women in the U.S. are expected to die in 2019 from breast cancer, though death
rates have been decreasing since 1989.
· For US women,
breast cancer death rates are higher than those for any other cancer, besides
lung cancer.
· In women under
45, breast cancer is more common in African-American women than white women,
and overall, African-American women are more likely to die of breast cancer.
· A woman’s risk
of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first-degree relative who has been
diagnosed with breast cancer.
· About 5-10% of
breast cancers can be linked to inherited gene mutations. Mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2
genes are the most common. Women with a BRCA1 mutation have up to a
72% lifetime risk of developing breast cancer; for those with a BRCA2 mutation,
the risk is 69%.
· About 85% of
breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer.
So, if you are a woman, take the time to take care
of yourself through self-exams and annual check-ups. If you’re a guy, support
the important women in your life and encourage them to be pro-active in their
care, and then follow-up on your important screenings as well. The best way to
beat any cancer is to catch it early!
Until next time, be aware and be well!
Lori
