The brown and orange colors of October are all around us, but you can also find a lot of pink to mark Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Whether it is found on products, posters or in commercials, the color serves as a great reminder of how we must continue the fight to find a cure for this disease.

Many Relay for Life teams and student athletes in the area have been raising money for the cure. I was able to attend an event called the Spielman Classic—named after Stefanie Spielman—in which the football players wore pink socks and everyone from both schools wore pink to stamp out breast cancer. Walks and other fundraising activities are constantly taking place, and I urge you to get involved. Our area has always been very generous in donating time and money in the battle against cancer.

Unfortunately, breast cancer accounts for nearly one out of every four cancers diagnosed in American women, and about 230,000 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in American women in 2011 alone. In fact, the odds of a woman developing breast cancer over the course of her lifetime are one in eight. And let’s remember, men can be diagnosed with breast cancer also.

Early detection is key in the fight against breast cancer. In addition to annual clinical exams and monthly self-exams, the American Cancer Society recommends obtaining regular mammograms starting at the age of 40, having them at least every other year. If you notice anything out of the ordinary while performing a self-exam, do not hesitate to call your physician.

Many of us have friends, family members and other loved ones who have had to deal with breast cancer, and it’s important to remind them that they are not alone. Finding a cure for breast cancer is not only aimed at preventing the disease, but also to prevent hardship on a personal level. I am convinced that detecting disease before it progresses is always the best result.

I am always willing to assist in the fight against breast cancer in any way that I can. Coming together in times like these can make a huge difference, and I hope that this month—Breast Cancer Awareness Month—you will do all you can to help out, also.