This is the first weekend of a month that ? if its warnings are heeded -could save your life or that of someone you love.

Saturday, October 02, 1999

This is the first weekend of a month that ­ if its warnings are heeded -could save your life or that of someone you love. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For the next 31 days, you will see plenty of special events and special rates to encourage women to get a mammogram or a clinical exam.

Breast cancer is a killer that can be beaten – if its onset is caught early enough. That means those who get regular in-office check-ups from their doctor and mammograms as directed improve their odds of catching cancer before it becomes too advanced to cure.

And those who watch their diets, stop smoking and exercise regularly are even luckier. They have a better chance of avoiding cancer altogether.

This is a good time of year to start thinking about taking care of yourself and those you love. Christmas is coming up and there really could be no better gift than encouraging a parent, wife, aunt, sister or daughter to get the exam that could save her life. And, then, to make sure you do the same.

Every year, thousands of women whose lives could have been saved die because they waited too long to get a mammogram. Their fear of what really is a simple, painless procedure, cost them years with their children and families.

Don’t wait until Oct. 31. Make your appointment today.

You owe it to yourself – and your family.