October is dedicated to many worthy causes, perhaps most notably is breast cancer awareness.

This brings to mind that monitoring one’s own body for signs or symptoms of illness requires a certain amount of discipline. Those of you who have experienced breast cancer, likely already know the importance of education, monthly self-checks and consultations as needed with a personal physician or even specialist.

If you are not yet already doing so, we urge men, as well as women, to begin and maintain such regular self-exams and checks.

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t put off seeing a doctor in the hope that the suspected lump goes away on its own. Those things never do.

Also, we recommend taking advantage of Southampton Memorial Hospital’s special mammogram offer as a way to keep breast cancer in check and give you the resources to deal with any issue that arises.

To learn more, visit www.nationalbreastcancer.org.