National Breast Cancer Awareness Month begins

by Janice C. Funk staff writer

Your mother, your wife, your sister. A friend, a girlfriend. What do all these women have in common?

They are all susceptible to the second leading cause of cancer death among women: breast cancer.

Because the American Cancer Society estimates that about 178,700 cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in 1998, with about 43,900 deaths, it is important that we recognize this killer and learn as much as possible about its symptoms and treatments.

And with an estimated 1,600 cases to be diagnosed in males, with about 400 deaths, it is equal- ly serious that men learn the same. That is why the American Cancer Society has set aside October as National Breast Cancer Awareness month.

Although Tricia Buonacore, health educator at Cabrini, has not yet made any plans for on-campus activities in recognition of the month, a chapter of the American Cancer Society in Media has a full calendar of community-wide events planned.

According to Gina Bitetti, community detection specialist at the center, there are a number of seminars and workshops open to the public in the Main Line area.

A workshop entitled "Breast Health: What Every Woman Needs to Know" will be presented Saturday, Oct. 3 at 10 a.m. at the Upper Main Line YMCA, located on