N Studies have shown that early detection and diagnosis lead to higher rates of survival and increased treatment options. It is believed that death rates can be reduced 35 percent through regular mammograms. The five-year survival rate for breast cancer is now 97 percent among individuals whose cancer has not spread beyond the breast at the time of diagnosis.

N Mammography is the best defense against breast cancer. It is an early breast cancer detection tool recommended by health professionals, which, along with self-breast exam and annual breast exam by a clinician, are the best tools available for early detection. A low-dose X-ray procedure enabling doctors to detect breast cancers that cannot yet be felt, and comparable to the radiation exposure experienced during a trans-Atlantic flight, it is the best available method to detect cancer in its earliest, most treatable stage an average of 1.7 years before the woman can feel the lump. Annual screening is recommended for all women over the age of forty.

Homer has seen its share of the effects of this disease, and resources are available for free screenings and mammograms for those who meet the income guidelines through Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic. KBFPC works with South Peninsula Hospital to provide state-of-the-art screening technology, including CAD readings. Women's Health Outreach workers go door to door to get the word out that services are available for all even for the uninsured or those who could not otherwise afford this primary screening tool.

Other resources include a local informal support group which meets monthly and is organized by Judy Lund at Sundog Consultants. She can be reached at 235-5971 for more information.

Also available are trained Reach to Recovery volunteers who provide one-to-one support for women dealing with breast cancer. For thirty-five years, this program of the American Cancer Society has helped breast cancer patients cope with the devastating effects of the disease. Driven by their mission of "No One Should Have to Face Breast Cancer Alone," Reach volunteers, who are survivors themselves, have lent a supporting hand to breast cancer patients coping with their diagnosis, treatment, and recovery. They offer understanding, support, and hope by helping patients and their caregivers express feelings, verbalize fears and concerns, and ask questions in order to make more informed choices.

Sharlene JP Cline, local coordinator for Reach to Recovery, has her own Hallmark story. Diagnosed in 2000, Sharlene underwent treatment, finishing in 2001 and in menopause. She spent the next year on recovery and healing, and in 2003 gave birth to twins. Sharlene got involved in the Reach program because to her the most helpful thing was "talking to other women who had gone through it and survived. That was a beacon, and now I want to give back." She can be reached at 235-3272.

Trained specialists at the National Cancer Information Center are also available at 1-800-ACS-2345 to offer support, answer questions and provide materials. Its Web site, www.cancer.org, provides information and a cyber community.

Call KBFPC at 235-3436 for details about free mammograms, clinical breast exams, or more information.

MaryClare Foecke is a health educator for the Kachemak Bay Family Planning Clinic.