October is Breast Cancer awareness month and it is a reminder for all of us to do something. Throughout the month of October. women are encouraged to make mammography appointments. In rare cases, 1% of men also develop breast cancer, which, in many cases, is often fatal for men who wait too long to get tested.

Some may wonder why a man is writing a letter about breast cancer, which is more common in women, but it affects us all. All the women we love-our mothers, sisters, wives, aunts, daughters, friends and even our fathers- can be affected by this insidious disease. We are their care givers and try to care for the love ones we love.

My wife of 37 years, Eva, has gone for the test many times, and I know it scares her because breast cancer runs in her family. She has friends who have had this disease and some have passed away. Each time she goes for the test, I’m afraid to hear the worst and maybe lose the most important person in my life.

But we must remember early detection is the answer. I know that for a fact because I had an aggressive prostate cancer, but due to early detection and aggressive surgery I am in remission seven years later. Now, with new treatment options, mammography screenings improve a women’s chance of survival. Many years ago, I had an aunt who had breast cancer in the 1960s and passed away at age 62 from breast cancer. But more can be done today and the cure rate is much better today.

We all need to get involved and do what we can to fight this insidious disease, like donation to the American Cancer Society, which helps women cope with this disease. A lot of organizations are out there that can help as well. So, please volunteer if you can and let’s help end this disease that affects women and men and their families.

Frederick Robert Bedell Jr.

Bellerose