Ex-marine Peter Devereaux

, a 48-year-old breast cancer survivor, has been on CNN and interviewed by newspapers like the Chicago Tribune to spread awareness about male breast cancer and what he believes caused it. Peter is one of 60 men with breast cancer from Camp Lejeune Marine Corps Base in North Carolina. They found the water at the base was laced with volatile organic chemicals... breast cancer, not just for women anymore...

Olivia Newton John has dropped

a new CD called Grace and Gratitude renewed. But did you know she is a breast cancer survivor? Already an international pop star, her role as shy but sexy Sandy in the movie musical Grease catapulted her to superstardom. She followed that success with several films, four Grammy-winning albums, and 15 chart-topping singles. She continued to act and record in the years that followed, but her career came to an abrupt halt when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992. Olivia fought the disease and won and has since become a tireless champion for breast cancer awareness and early detection. Now she's lending both her energy and her name to the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Centre, a hospital and wellness facility that is being built in her hometown of Melbourne, Australia.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Do you and your loved ones know:
• 1 in 8 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime?
• Over 30% of women are diagnosed after breast cancer has spread.
• When breast cancer is detected early, the 5-year survival rate is 98%.
Prevention:
• Limit alchohol use
• Maintain healthy weight
• Stay physically active
• Limit fat in your diet
• Annual exams by your doctor, who should teach you how to exam yourself
• Self-inspection of your breasts, every month
• Mammograms every 2 years
Local Info:
• Our hospital, SGHS Brunswick, is giving free mammograms this month to women who are eligible due to financial or insurance issues.
• Through Oct. 28- Art-rageous Fundraiser Themed Bras created by physicians, healthcare workers, volunteers, and local artists. Vote for your favorite bra - $1 per vote, proceeds to benefit SGHS cancer programs; bras auctioned off at end of exhibit. Southeast Georgia Health System Outpatient Care Center Art Gallery, Bwk. Art Downtown/Gallery 209: 262-0628, ArtDowntownGallery209.com, sghs.org

Funding help on the way

“Many cancer patients in Glynn County are uninsured or underinsured and do not qualify for financial help programs due to their age or assets”, explains Britt Figueroa, the founder and CEO of BoobieHead Inc. Britt is working to change that. She has the inspiration, the experience, and the plan.

You see, Britt is a recent survivor of breast cancer. She learned first hand many of cancer patient’s needs, which inspired her to create a line of ultra-soft casual apparel for sensitive skin, tender from chemotherapy treatments. This was just a start, of course, because Britt had a larger purpose in mind.

“A portion of the monies created from BoobieHead Inc. will go to Your Cancer Care Foundation , which will act as a pass through to pay those financial gaps for qualified candidates who would otherwise have to file for bankruptcy”, says Figueroa. Qualifying patients would be below Medicare age and have assets above Medicaid levels, but are still unable to pay hefty healthcare bills. “We first want to take care of the needs of cancer patients in Glynn County, and then we will grow to support people in other areas.”

Figueroa has the business acumen and experience to back it up. Remember Monkey Love, the fun dessert bar and gallery at Red Fern Village in St. Simons? That was her successful previous venture, so she knows business.

She also knows cancer and has a plan to help our family, friends, and neighbors who are in need.