Protect yourself

I heard the following statistics on a BBC radio programme.

Three-fourths of deaths due to breast cancer occur among women who do not undergo regular screening mammograms, a large study shows.
Researchers studied 6,997 women who were diagnosed with breast cancer in Massachusetts between 1990 and 1999. Surveys indicated that 80% had regular mammograms, defined as at least two screening mammograms every two years.
Over the next 13 years, there were 461 deaths from breast cancer; 345 (75%) were among women who did not receive regular mammograms and 116 (25%) were among women who were regularly screened.
....But when looked at by their mammogram history, only 5% of those who were regularly screened are expected to die by 2022, he says.
In contrast, 56% of those who skipped regular mammograms are expected to die over the same period.
...Other studies have shown that regular mammograms, which help detect breast cancers at earlier, more curable stages, cut the risk of dying from breast cancer by anywhere from 25% to over 50%.

Read more:
http://women.webmd.com/news/20091006/mammograms-cut-risk-breast-cancer-death

I refer readers in Israel to Michael Freund's post "The Battle Against Breast Cancer."

I just came across an article about billions of dollars that charities are missing out on because people aren't writing wills with specific donations to their charities. Click here to read info.