On Monday, the sublimely hilarious Ellen DeGeneres, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor, dedicated her show to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. During the monologue, Ellen discussed the philosophy of laughter being the best medicine, and in her uniquely funny way gave an example to support this view by stating that Elton John is proof that looking through rose-colored glasses will alter your optimism because Elton John is a very happy person.
She imparted wisdom that being in a good mood makes your body feel better, that optimistic people heal quicker and that positivity is an energy you cannot see but is very real. Again, Ellen provided an example of how this works when she compared what happens when you hug someone who is wearing too much perfume and you walk away smelling like the perfume. Energy is like that. It rubs off on others.
Breast cancer survivor Sheryl Crow appeared on the show, as did Christina Applegate, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor. Four audience members had their hair cut on television and donated the locks to Pantene's Beautiful Lengths. Pantene's Beautiful Lengths makes wigs for women with cancer. Ellen blogs her monologues and other tidbits of information and this month, her website provides breast cancer information.
A few breast cancer fast facts:
- One out of eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer. In 1960 it was one out of 14.
- An estimated 212,920 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to occur among women in the US during 2006. This does not take DCIS into account.
- An estimated 41,430 breast cancer deaths are anticipated this year.
- Female breast cancer rates have continued to increase, although at a slower rate than in years past.
- Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women.
- Breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer death for women 40-55 years of age.
- There are 2 million women living in the U.S. who have been diagnosed and treated for breast cancer.
- There are another 1 million women living with breast cancer who have not yet been diagnosed.
- Every woman is at risk for breast cancer, and that risk increases with age. About 77 percent of breast cancer diagnoses occur in women age 50 and older.
- Seventy percent of breast cancers occur in women who have no identifiable risk factors.
