I'm Janet Olszewski, the Director of the Michigan Department of Community Health.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2007, 5,900 Michigan women were diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,320 women died of the disease.

Breast cancer is most treatable when it is detected early. Routine screenings are recommended for early detection.

For more information on breast cancer and prevention speak with your physician or visit our Web site at www.michigan.gov/mdch.