By Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month and is a reminder for all of us to do something. Throughout the month of October, women are encouraged to make mammography appointments.
Some may wonder why a man is writing a letter about breast cancer, which is mainly a women’s disease, but it affects all of us. The ones we love—like our mother, sister, wife, lover or life companion—are affected by this insidious disease. We are their caregivers and try to care for the ones we love. I know my wife of 28 years goes every year for the test. And I know it scares her because breast cancer runs in her family and she has friends who have had the disease. Yet each time she goes for the test I’m afraid to hear the worst and maybe lose the most important person in my life.
I know many men have fears like myself. But we all must remember that early detection is the answer. Also, when coupled with new treatment options, mammography screenings do improve a woman’s chance of survival.
We all need to get involved and do what we can to help in the fight against this most insidious disease, like donating money to the American Cancer Society and organizations that help women to cope with this disease. A lot of these organizations can be found on the Internet and in our local newspapers. There are also runs and walks that help raise money and those who can should enlist and volunteer their efforts in these fund-raisers.
Frederick R. Bedell Jr.
Glen Oaks Village
