 Pinktober
(Texas) The month of October is designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month throughout the world. The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) program is dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of the early detection of breast cancer through a nationwide campaign.
To honor those currently battling the disease and all who have survived the fight against breast cancer Coaster Texas held a special “Pink Day” to help raise awareness. Employees were encouraged to wear pink clothes to work and the office and showrooms were decorated with pink balloons. Coaster also celebrated those fighting cancer by joining Team "Coasting to the Finish, Racing for the Cure" in the Susan G. Komen race for the Cure in Dallas
On October 17, 2009 over 15 Coaster employees, friends, and family members “got in the pink” and joined thousands of others on a 3.1 mile walk through downtown Dallas. Thank you to everyone who supported the team with donations and encouragement. Team participants from Coaster included Alondra Garcia, Rosalind Aragon Wells, Gracie Limones, Mary Peterson, Tiffany Hunter, Joetta Vaxter, Chad Senn, and temp employees Gogola, Christine Garcia, Kelsey Lewis, and Mansur Nashid. Susan G. Komen Races for the Cure have helped provide more than $1.3 billion for the cause to end breast cancer.
More information on National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
The National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) program is dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of the early detection of breast cancer through a nationwide campaign. NBCAM started as a weeklong campaign in 1985 with 2 founding members.
Breast cancer can be attributed to many factors, including age, genetics, obesity, and family history. Women who exercise regularly, maintain healthy diets, and have yearly visits with their doctors are less likely to get breast cancer. Various screening measures such as mammograms, regular breast self-exams, and clinical breast exams can help detect cancer before it has a chance to spread. Early detection allows for early intervention, helps make treatment more effective, and gives hope to patients and saves lives.
Q: What is breast cancer?
A: Breast cancer is cancer that forms in tissues of the breast, usually the ducts (tubes that carry milk to the nipple) and lobules (glands that make milk). It occurs in both men and women, although male breast cancer is rare.
Q: How many new cases of breast cancer were estimated in the United States in 2009?
A: According to the American Cancer Society (ACS), an estimated 192,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed among women in the United States last year. Approximately 1,910 new cases are expected in men. The ACS also reports that an estimated 40,610 breast cancer deaths are expected in 2009 (40,170 women, 440 men).
Q: How common is breast cancer in the United States?
A: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, aside from skin cancer.
Q: What is advanced breast cancer?
A: Breast cancer is considered advanced when it has spread from its original site to distant areas of the body. Physicians will look at a number of factors to determine the stage of breast cancer, including tumor size, lymph node involvement, and whether the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Once the stage of the disease is determined, there are two different ways advanced breast cancer can be classified: locally advanced or metastatic.
Q: What is locally advanced breast cancer?
A: The term locally advanced breast cancer indicates that the cancer is large (greater than 2 inches) or may have spread to other nearby tissue, such as underarm lymph nodes. Locally advanced breast cancer is considered Stage III, and if it is operable, it is referred to as Stage IIIA.
Q: What is metastatic breast cancer?
A: The term metastatic breast cancer indicates that the cancer has spread from the breast to other parts of the body such as bone, lung, liver, or brain.
Q: What are the treatments for breast cancer?
A: The basic treatment choices for breast cancer are surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, and hormonal therapy, which may or may not be included in the treatment regimen, depending on hormonal involvement in the growth of the tumor. Local treatments such as breast surgery and radiation therapy are focused on the breast itself to remove or destroy the cancer cells confined to the breast. Systemic treatment such as chemotherapy aims to destroy the cancer cells that may have spread throughout the body.
Newer experimental treatments include biologically targeted therapies which currently, are only available through clinical trials. A patient and his/her physician will choose the treatment that is right for him/her, based on the location and extent of the cancer, patient's age and preferences, and the risks and benefits of each treatment..
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