Nimkee “Saves Lids to Save Lives” in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Observer Staff

10/3/2005 12:00:00 AM

Most women have more than one known risk factor for developing breast cancer, yet will never get the disease.

However, with an estimated 211,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer expected to occur among women in the nation this year, simply being a woman puts one at risk.

Nimkee Public Health Assistant Judy Davis is collecting clean lids from Yoplait yogurt containers as an effort to find a cure.

"For each lid collected, Yoplait will donate 10 cents to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation's Race for the Cure," Davis explained.

Davis also said the best method of prevention is education.

"Early detection increases the odds of beating the disease, so routine self-exams are ones best defense," she added.

"All women should perform monthly exams by the age of 20. The best time to do so is a few days after the last day of the menstrual cycle or on the same day each month for women that have been through menopause."

Any changes that are different than normal in the look or feel of ones breast would indicate the need to see ones health care provider.

Known risk factors include:

- being a woman

- getting older

- having a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer

- having your first period before age 12

- starting menopause after age 55

- never having children

- having your first child after age 30

- drinking more than one alcoholic drink per day

- being overweight after menopause or gaining weight as an adult

- currently or recently using combined estrogen and progestin hormone replacement therapy

Contact Davis for more information or to set up an appointment at (989) 775-4629.

Clean pink Yoplait yogurt lids may be dropped off at Nimkee or mailed to Judy Davis, 2591 S. Leaton Road, Mt. Pleasant, MI 48858.