Awareness Alert! Check Out These Resources on Breast Cancer!

Over the past several years, October has become synonymous with pink. Pink ribbons, pink lights illuminating public buildings, even pink football helmets. All of that has to do with raising awareness for breast cancer. According to the National Cancer Institute, breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women, and is second only to lung cancer in cancer-related deaths among women.

St. Louis Public Library has a wealth of information on breast cancer, including DVDs, foreign language materials, and biographies written by breast cancer survivors and others who have been touched by the illness. Medical books about breast cancer can be found under the Dewey Decimal Number 616.99449, or by searching “breast cancer” in the online catalog at www.slpl.org. Additionally, free pamphlets are available at the five Good Health Spot kiosks, located at Central Library and the Buder, Carpenter, Julia Davis, and Schlafly branches.

Among the many breast cancer-related books available at St. Louis Public Library are:

• The Mayo Clinic Breast Cancer Book by Lynn C. Hartmann 
• The Breast Cancer Sourcebook: Basic Consumer Health Information About the Prevalence, Risk Factors, and Symptoms of Breast Cancer by Amy L. Sutton
• Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know — Now by the American Cancer Society
• Patients’ Guide to Breast Cancer by Lillie Shockney
• Breast Cancer: 50 Essential Things You Can Do by Greg Anderson
• Positive Results: Making the Best Decisions When You’re at High Risk for Breast or Ovarian Cancer by Joi L. Morris

In addition to the resources offered by the St. Louis Public Library, there are several not-for-profit organizations dedicated to preventing and raising awareness for breast cancer, and supporting those who have been diagnosed with breast cancer. Some excellent sources for information are the American Cancer Society, the National Cancer Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and Living Beyond Breast Cancer.

Locally, the Siteman Cancer Center has a variety of resources online, including screening guidelines, 8ight Ways to Prevent Breast Cancer, and a simple questionnaire that helps determine your level of risk for breast cancer.

Other online resources include:

• A basic description of breast cancer from the National Library of Medicine 
• How to do a breast self exam from the National Library of Medicine 
• Simple ways to reduce your risk of breast cancer from the American Cancer Society
• A description of how breast cancer is diagnosed from the American Cancer Society
• A guide to coping with a diagnosis of breast cancer from the Komen Foundation
• A glossary of breast cancer-related terms from the Medical Library Association
• Information about alternative and complementary treatment from the Komen Foundation
• A guide to nutrition for breast cancer patients and survivors from Living Beyond Breast Cancer
• A basic explanation of breast cancer for kids who may know someone with breast cancer, or simply have questions about all the pink ribbons from KidsHealth.org