Jayme Steighner, director of Butler County Community College’s Keystone Education Yields Success program, talks Wednesday to a class of registered nursing students about her experience of having invasive lobular carcinoma. See the story on Page 9. Submitted Photo

As you turn the pages of today’s newspaper, they are colored pink.

It’s intended to stand out, to get your attention, if even for a second, because breast cancer claims too many lives.

One in 8 women will be diagnosed with invasive breast cancer over their lifetime, and 1 in 39 women will die from it, according to the American Cancer Society.

For women in the United States, it is the most common type of cancer and the second leading cause of death from cancer. It’s second only to lung cancer, as the most common cancer-related cause of death for both men and women across the country.

The keys to survival: Early detection. Awareness.

That’s why we color the pages of today’s edition pink and make a point writing the informative pieces in today’s edition, telling the stories of survivors, highlighting resources and covering breast cancer awareness events.

Don’t let your life or your loved ones lives be lost to breast cancer. Be aware.

Symptoms like a lump or mass in the breast, breast pain or tenderness, changes in breast size or shape, swelling in the armpit area and more should be investigated. Book an appointment. Ask a doctor.

Then, when the time comes: Schedule the regular mammograms that can help identify breast cancer at an early stage.

Women, especially those with a family history of breast cancer, should have the chance to begin annual screenings between the ages of 40 and 44. All women should be screened annually between the ages of 45 to 54. Women age 55 and older should then transition to screenings every other year.

The story in this year’s edition that stands out is the one featured on today’s community page about Cory Steighner, who Jayme Steighner calls a “Wife Saver.” His persistence ensured she got the treatment she needed and saved her life.

Also, worth noting: A “Pink Out” game held last week invited volleyball players to bring a breast cancer survivor with them to the game. A mother, grandmother and aunt were among those who were highlighted at the event.

The people who will get breast cancer are the people we know. It’s 1 in 8 women.

Be aware. Take action. Detect breast cancer early. Save lives.

— TL