Last Monday, singer songwriter and breast cancer survivor Sheryl Crow appeared on the Ellen DeGeneres Show to help Ellen, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor, launch the show's recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Six months ago, Crow was diagnosed with breast cancer, and is happy to say that during her last check-up she got an all clear and is in breast cancer remission. Crow talked about the impact breast cancer had -- that when you hit bottom it is a place where you meet yourself. At that time, Crow realized she needed to take care of herself by putting herself first, as opposed to the many years when her focus was on taking care of others. Crow described herself as very self-critical before breast cancer, and was a woman who could not say no to others -- their happiness was a priority that came before her own. Ellen joked that bottom for Crow might mean breaking up with your fiance (Lance Armstrong) and getting a breast cancer diagnosis a month later. Crow laughed and nodded in agreement.

Crow talked about some of the dangers you can avoid to promote cancer prevention such as not leaving bottled water out in the sun. The chemical reaction of the heated plastic to the water is known to be carcinogenic. Other dangers include dietary changes a woman can make, and we have shared her tips in a past post here.

Crow, who is currently touring with John Mayer, stated, "It's what you do with experience that really defines who you become." Crow wears a gold bracelet with the words Breathe and That which does not kill me makes me stronger as well as her diagnosis date inscribed on it as a spiritual reminder.

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.
  

As Ellen told the audience of breast cancer survivors, "We can beat this thing."

Five years ago, Mimi Barker, a young woman in her 20s, was diagnosed with breast cancer. Her younger sister Lela, intent on understanding how her young sister could develop breast cancer, began researching possible breast cancer causes. What she found prompted her into reading ingredient labels of all the beauty and bath care products in her bathroom, and she was stunned to find most had the paraben ingredient researchers were suggesting increased breast cancer risks for women.

Lela advised Mimi to get rid of everything that contained paraben, and she did the same. Faced with the reality that the market did not offer many appealing natural and organic personal beauty care products, Lela began making her own in her kitchen. She shared what she made with her sister and her friends. Lela found she enjoyed creating soaps, bath salts and lotions that rivaled the commercial products in aroma and texture.

On March 1st, at Saks Fifth Avenue's Unforgettable Evening, Melissa Etheridge was honored by Entertainment Industry Foundation's Women's Cancer Research Fund, EIF's WCRF, with the 2006 Courage Award for her dedicated efforts in raising breast cancer awareness and on behalf of her unwavering support for cancer research and education. Since her breast cancer diagnosis in October 2004, Ms. Etheridge has served as a strong role model for women affected by breast cancer. This year's event was mc'd by Ellen DeGeneres, with a special performance by the GRAMMY-award winning artists The Black Eyed Peas.

Etheridge accepted the award by saying, "I wish you love, I wish you peace and light. Thank you all very much." DeGeneres, whose mother is a breast cancer survivor, later took the stage, where she congratulated Etheridge for her honorary award.

The Women's Cancer Research Fund, a program of the Entertainment Industry Foundation, was established by Honorary Chairs Rita Wilson, Tom Hanks, Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg, along with co-founders Kelly Chapman Meyer, Anne Douglas, Quinn Ezralow, Marion Laurie, and Jamie Tisch. WCRF supports innovative research, education, and outreach directed at the development of more effective approaches to the early diagnosis, treatment and prevention of all women's cancer.