October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month. And we need awareness; breast cancer is scary. It can be disfiguring and it can be lethal. But if you catch it early, the 5-year survival rate is 90%.

Breast cancer us the most common cancer diagnosed among US women and the second leading cause of death among women after lung cancer. That’s why all women ages 40 to 44 should start getting a screening mammogram, and continue annual mammograms between the ages of 45-54, which is the same ages most women are going through menopause. At age 55 and older women should switch to mammograms every year or two.

According to the CDC, these are Signs of Breast Cancer.

• New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
• Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
• Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
• Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
• Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
• Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
• Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
• Pain in any area of the breast

Because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, I wrote this song and made this video called Mammogram. On vocals is Joanie Pimentel; on piano is Ben Schwendener. Enjoy! And get a mammogram!

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