Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Yesterday, I had the privilege to meet Jane Robinson, a JSU alum, who recently overcame breast cancer. She was small, spunky and literally full of energy!

She made me think of all the women who have had and who currently do have breast cancer. I can't imagine receiving the news that could change your life completely, but Robinson took it all in stride.

Did you know that 182,000 women are diagnosed with breast cancer each year and that 43,300 of them will not survive? Did you also know that men can get breast cancer? Though its more rare, 1,600 men are diagnosed each year and all but 400 survive it.

Doctors are still unsure what exactly causes breast cancer but a few risk factors they have found are: simply being a woman, age, family history, race, not having children (or having them later in life), birth control pills and even being overweight.

Interestingly enough, around 70 percent of cases are found through self exams. Click here to learn how to perform one at home.

For more information on breast cancer, click here or try here .

There are some really great breast cancer networks like the Susan G. Komen foundation or The Breast Cancer Research foundation or The National Breast Cancer foundation .

Next week, The Chanticleer will have more information on Robinson and her fight with with breast cancer, so stayed tuned!