Knowledge and vigilance are key to ensuring breast health

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), and the organization of the same name will send a promotion kit to anyone who is interested in becoming a NBCAM Program Leader. Program Leaders spread the message about the early detection of breast cancer at work, at church, at your local shopping mall, or through your local media. A promotion kit can be ordered by calling 1-877-88-NBACM.

The Komen Race for the Cure has become the largest series of 5K runs in the nation, held in 98 cities across the U.S. in 1999 with over 700,000 participants. Money raised though racers' pledges fund both national research efforts and local breast cancer initiatives. If you'd like to help raise money and awareness for breast cancer, look on the web for race dates and sites at www.raceforthecure.com.

The National Breast Cancer Coalition is a grassroots advocacy organization dedicated to eradicating breast cancer through trying to increase funding for research, increasing access to treatment for all women, and increasing the influence of breast cancer activists with policymakers. Membership fees in NBCC begin at $35. For more information, call 202/296-7477 or look on the web at www.natlbcc.org.

Research programs and non-profit breast cancer organizations rely to a great extent on individual donations. Find an organization of your liking and make as generous a donation as you possibly can.

More on Breast Cancer