Marjory, who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer and her husband Gordon, a family physician, both blog Beating Breast Cancer. Marjory shares her perspective as a breast cancer patient and Gordon shares his knowledge as a doctor. I check in on Marjory and Gordon regularly, as Beating Breast Cancer is one of my favorite blogs in the cancer community.

In a recent post, Gordon admits to checking the blog's traffic report to see who is visiting and what they are searching for when they arrive at the Beating Breast Cancer blog. He noticed that a search for information on painful lumps in the breast is a topic frequently searched for -- and so he put together easy to understand information for readers interested in learning more about breast pain and painful breast lumps. Gordon is reassuring in letting women know most breast lumps do not turn out to be breast cancer (although he insists that a woman see her physician immediately should she find a lump in her breast) and he explains the causes of painful breast lumps. To learn more, visit Gordon's A Painful Breast Lump - Could It Be Breast Cancer?

New birth control pills and contraceptives are already on the market -- or about to be released -- that allow women the option of ending monthly menstruation for good. This option is becoming increasingly popular with women at both the beginning stage and ending stage of their reproductive life.

For women who suffer greatly each month with the physical pain and emotional upsets that can occur during periods, this might be a good option. For other women, it might be a matter of convenience and a way of improving sex life. If you are not actively attempting to get pregnant, this seems like a reasonable option in eliminating periods that do not seem to serve a practical purpose. As I understand it, the pills are far safer than the contraceptive pills of the past, with much lower doses of estrogen and progestin. However, it is still a birth control type pill, and the warnings remain the same. If you are over 35 and smoke, you are advised not to use it. If you are a cancer survivor diagnosed with cancers fueled by hormones, you are advised not to use this method of controlling monthly menstrual cycles. This pill still increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and blood clots.

On the other side of the coin -- according to research -- these birth control type pills might lower risk of endometrial and ovarian cancer. But, hormones operate in the body on so many complex levels, and regulate so many other systems within the body, I do not know that scientists understand the complexities enough to tell women that halting a hormone process for an indefinite amount of time by manipulating estrogen and progestin is safe for long-term health. Especially when it comes to cancers that are hormone-driven.

Has anyone else questioned the intent of businesses hitching their product wagon to the pink campaign for breast cancer? I am not picking on this business in particular, it's just the business news press release of the day announcing another company going pink for breast cancer charity. According to vendPINK, a division of the dittie company -- in announcing the launch of its new cause-related pink vending program -- states that the vendPINK program will be supporting women in and out of the bathroom. The company goes on to state that "VendPINK vends the fun, feminine and fabulous dittie tampons that inspires and supports women during that time of the month. While out of the bathroom, vendPINK is inspiring those women fighting breast cancer." Okay. They said it -- not me.

"Our vendPINK programs reflects dittie's commitment to creating a network of women dedicated to supporting one another," said Barbara Carey, dittie and vendPINK president and founder. "Everyone has been affected by breast cancer in one way or another. We are passionate about creating this support system and do not want anyone to ever feel they have to face breast cancer alone." 20 percent of the profits from the sale of this product are going to breast cancer charity. I like all companies who donate a portion of their profits to cancer charity. But there is a small part of me that is becoming cynically exhausted by the pink. Maybe it's just me. How do you feel about the pink?