Save a life -- your own

My grandmother died of breast cancer. One of the last memories I

have of Biji is of her lying in an Indian hospital bed with bandages

around her chest. She had just had a double mastectomy.

Though she lived for many more years, it was mostly through force

of will. She stubbornly held out until 1991, when my twin sister

visited her on behalf of both of us after a 10-or-so-year

estrangement from our Indian family. She died two weeks after Lara

came back to the United States.

I say all of this because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

and I feel the need to make sure people are aware. According to the

Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation -- yes, this is the one that

sponsors Race for the Cure every year at Fashion Island -- 203,500

women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. About 39,600

women will die from the disease.

The best chance for survival is to find the cancer early. I had my

breast exam this year. Did you? Any woman older than 20 should be

doing a breast self exam every month and visiting her doctor for a

breast exam at least once every three years. Most insurance companies

sponsor a yearly checkup exam.

If you are 40 or older, doctors recommend getting a breast exam

every year and a mammogram. Though I’ve never had one, from helping

my disabled mother at the doctor’s office I know how uncomfortable

they can be. Yeah, it’s not fun. I’ve heard it described as sticking

your breasts in a refrigerator door and slamming it closed. But which

would you rather have -- one day of not-fun or the knowledge that you

could have found the cancer earlier with a mammogram? I know what my

answer is.

There are still plenty of strides to be made in breast cancer

research. But those strides need funding. Among the events that will

be held throughout the Southland this month to help is a book signing

by Evelyn Lauder and Estee Lauder spokesmodel Elizabeth Hurley from

noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday. Lauder will sign copies of her photo book,

“An Eye For Beauty,” at Nordstrom’s South Coast Plaza, 3333 Bristol

St. Royalties from sales of the book will benefit the Breast Cancer

Research Foundation.

All women are at risk for breast cancer, even if it doesn’t run in

your family. I lost one of my family members to it. Try and make sure

your family doesn’t lose one of its. If you have questions about

breast cancer, you can find information by calling (800) I’M AWARE or

visit www.komen.org.

* JENNIFER K MAHAL is features editor of the Daily Pilot. She may

be reached at (949) 574-4282 or jennifer.mahal@latimes.com.