Touching stories about breast cancer awareness

Few causes have generated as much awareness and support than Breast Cancer Awareness month during the month of October.

SoutheastHEALTH and Saint Francis Medical Center partner during the month to promote the color pink, encouraging businesses and groups to display pink and raise support for breast cancer treatment.

We all have been affected in someway by breast cancer -- whether it's directly as a patient or caring for a loved one or friend who has battled the disease. But the good news is there are treatment options and, better yet, life-saving health checkups.

During the month there are opportunities to support breast cancer research. We thank all those who support this cause and encourage you to find a way to be involved. The research is critical, but also important are the compassionate ways individuals help those who have the disease. Whether through wigs, gas cards or transportation to treatment, there are many ways to help out. However, we also encourge you to respect the privacy of individuals as they prefer not to answer questions and draw attention to their battle.

The Thursday edition of the Southeast Missourian will include stories on breast cancer. We hear the statistics, but it's the first-hand stories that touch our hearts. We hope you will read these stories.

To all those currently battling breast cancer, or any type of cancer, we offer our prayers for healing.