Local Puget Sound Business Owner to Take Stand Against Breast Cancer for Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Since the National Breast Cancer Awareness Month program began in 1995, breast mammography rates have more than doubled for women over the age of 50, and breast cancer deaths have declined. Though this is certainly progress, there are still women who do not get screening mammograms or clinical breast exams regularly.

Getting regular screening tests is the best way to lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. When breast cancer is found early, screening tests can find breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.

What you need to know: 1. Do monthly self-examinations; 2. Do not put off going to the doctor if you find something suspicious, and; 3. Get routine mammograms.

Getting Involved Can Make a Difference

There are many types of events where you can get involved. There are many products you can purchase where a portion of the proceeds will go to to research to find a cure.

Whether you purchase a product, or get involved in fundraising, or walk a 5K event, or a 3-Day event, every thing you do to raise awareness makes a difference. You are letting others know of the importance of early detection. You are raising money to help to make this difference.

Dinners Done Right Franchise Owner to Do Her Part

Valerie Krein, owner of two franchise locations of Dinners Done Right (DDR), has a personal interest in this cause. Each and every one of her employees at her Lacey, Washington, and McChord AFB locations has been touched personally by breast cancer in some way--mothers, sisters, aunts, friends, and co-workers...some are survivors themselves.

"You never know when the one diagnosed with cancer could be you," said Valerie. "This is why this cause is so important to me."

The Dinners Done Right Breast Cancer Awareness and Fundraising Event will be held at the Lacey location at 8640 Martin Way East on October 2^nd from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is open and free to the public, and will be featuring a Food Tasting to sample delicious selection from the October menu.

There will be information about breast cancer so that people can learn more about this disease, and how to make a difference. There are also several who have donated kitchen products, jewelry, and other items with a suggested donation amount, with the profits donated to support breast cancer research awareness.

Valerie is also running a special Pink Ribbon Promotion on meal plans at both her locations through the end of October.

For any customer who pre-registers at the event, or stops in to either the Lacey or McChord location and pre-registers for November meal plans, Valerie will discount the plans by 5 percent, and match that 5 percent as a donation to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure organization.

To find out more information about the event, or to support the Pink Ribbon promotion, please call Valerie at: (360) 438-8463 or email lacey@dinnersdoneright.com.

A Call to Action

Anyone can get breast cancer.

If you are a woman, the older you become, the more likely you are to get breast cancer. If you are a white woman, you are more likely to get breast cancer than if you belonged to any other racial or ethnic group.

If you are a black woman, you are more likely to die from breast cancer than white women.

If you are a man, you can get breast cancer. Last year, nearly 2000 new cases of breast cancer were men.

Every one of us knows someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer-perhaps YOU are the one who has faced the battle.

The time is now to celebrate life, raise awareness, and make a difference that counts. Do something. Get involved. Every one deserves a lifetime free from a diagnosis of breast cancer.

Sources

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month Website
Susan G. Komen for the Cure Website
Dinners Done Right Website

Note: The author received a diagnosis of early stage breast cancer-Ductal Carcinoma in Situ, Stage 0 w/no micro-invasion in June 2007. After choosing a mastectomy of her right breast, followed by a year-long process of the DIEP reconstruction, she is currently cancer-free, as of this writing. Her mission is to make others aware that early detection is key to beating this disease and that as long as there is a fight in her, she will continue to fight alongside others who must deal with this disease.