Throughout this month, the color pink can be found on everything from ribbons to bumper stickers, T-shirts and hats. The message is simple: think pink and stamp out breast cancer.

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM) offers several ways to promote the early detection of breast cancer. The Web site, www.nbcam.org, provides options to send personalized electronic greeting cards and template e-mail messages to alert friends that early detection saves lives and remind them to schedule their annual mammogram. The Web site also contains several resources for promoting breast cancer awareness. For more information, visit www.nbcam.org.

In the United States, more than 211,240 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed this year. Significant progress in mammography technology is helping physicians diagnose the disease earlier. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the less likely a woman will need highly invasive and uncomfortable treatments, and the more likely she will survive the disease.

As a result, breast cancer survivors make up the largest group of cancer survivors. Mammography screening is the single, most-effective method of early detection. Therefore, an annual mammogram is recommended for women over 40. A clinical examination by a healthcare professional should be done yearly.

Women can take charge of their breast health by performing a breast self-exam every month and understanding their personal risks of the disease--and reporting any breast change promptly to their healthcare provider.

Special populations at risk for breast cancer include minority and older women. African-American women have a higher breast cancer death rate than women of any other racial or ethnic population. Many women over the age of 60 feel that screening for breast cancer is not necessary; however, women over 60 are more at risk for breast cancer.

For more information, visit www.nbcam.org.