National Breast Cancer Awareness Month … A Guest Post by Rene Syler

October is especially important for me because it’s a time when I see so many people come together for a cause that has personally impacted me so deeply. People have been recognizing National Breast Cancer Awarenss Month for nearly 20 years but in recent years the outpouring of support for raising breast cancer awareness during October has been truly amazing!

As an Ambassador and co-chair of Circle of Promise, a Susan G. Komen for the Cure campaign, I travel to different events throughout the month and get to see up close how women from every generation have made breast cancer their cause of choice. This makes me positively reflect on the fact that a cure for breast cancer is possible in our lifetime. Programs like Komen for the Cure’s Passionately Pink for the Cure® engage millions in October who choose a day to wear pink, fundraise for Komen and spread life-saving messages of early detection.

It’s that awareness that enabled me to make the best choice when it came to safeguarding my own breast health. After seeing both my parents experience and survive breast cancer, I made a courageous decision to undergo a prophylactic mastectomy, the removal of both breasts, to help reduce my personal risk.

Komen’s Circle of Promise, which launched last year, is raising awareness of the need to fight breast cancer in the African American community. This is important because cancer is the second leading cause of cancer deaths among African American women. The program encourages women to become ambassadors within their local communities, helping Komen to rewrite the story on African Americans and breast cancer.

Whether you’re a survivor or co-survivor, young or old, anyone can join the fight to end breast cancer forever. During October and beyond, I want to encourage everyone to do their part to save lives from breast cancer. Here are some things you can do to show your support during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month:

• Grab seven friends and join the Circle of Promise!

• Go Passionately Pink for the Cure
• Participate in a Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure
• Visit the Promise Shop and help fund breast cancer research through your purchase of gifts for friends and family

But don’t stop there! Educate yourself on breast health and breast cancer at www.komen.org.

Until next time,

René

(Image: René Syler)

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ABOUT RENE SYLER

René is a professional woman, mother of two, wife, TV personality, and breast cancer educator. She is also a Circle of Promise ambassador.