CLEARLAKE – The probability of a woman being diagnosed with invasive breast cancer during her life is about one in eight. And, the probability of dying from breast cancer is about one in 35, according to the American Cancer Society.

Breast cancer death rates are going down, the association says, which is probably a result of finding the cancer earlier and receiving improved treatment.

That is why Curves' locations, including the ones in the Clearlake area, are encouraging women to get annual mammograms and perform monthly breast self-exams during National Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October.

Women who bring in a mammogram, performed within the last year, or make a $25 donation to the American Cancer Society will be waived from paying a service fee when they join Curves during one of the last three weeks of October.

Also, participating Curves locations will make available a unique home breast self-exam kit called the Liv Aid, which makes the breast self-exam process more sensitive for detecting unusual lumps. For every Liv Aid kit sold, Curves will donate one to another woman who can't afford one.

"Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women worldwide, and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a perfect opportunity for us to emphasize ways of prevention," says Curves founder Diane Heavin. "Not only are we rewarding women for having mammograms and encouraging them to perform breast-exams, we are also educating Clearlake-area community members about the disease and how they can significantly reduce their risk through diet and exercise."

Based on recent information released about breast cancer, Heavin has provided the following advice for local women regarding breast self-exams:

• How can women exercise good breast health? Most women who think of screening for breast cancer think of mammograms, but there are three ways to screen for breast cancer: mammography, clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional and breast self-exams. When combined, they offer the best opportunity to detect the disease at its earliest, most treatable stages.

• How important is early detection? Early detection means the availability of more treatment options. More than 95 percent of women whose breast cancer is caught in its earliest stages are more likely to be healthy and disease-free five years after their diagnosis and treatment, Heavin said.

• How important are breast self-exams? Breast self-exams catch a significant number of breast cancers, some 15 to 20 percent, that otherwise might have gone undetected for possibly up to a year between doctor visits, Heavin said. And, about 80 percent of breast cancers not discovered by mammography are found by women themselves. Through breast self-exams, women are in the position to detect subtle changes in their breast tissue.

Recent research has linked obesity and excess weight with an increased risk for various cancers, including breast cancer. According to Heavin, Curves has been a long-committed partner in the fight against cancer, raising millions of dollars annually for research, treatment, and recovery programs. The company has helped millions of women around the world lose millions of pounds and move away from all types of diseases.

"When women understand that one-third of all breast cancer can be related to lack of exercise and poor diet, they'll see that they have the opportunity to have much more control over their cancer risk," Heavin said. "We want to encourage women to learn more about the impact wellness has on preventing cancer."

For more information about Curves or what week in October the locations are waiving their service fees, contact Gale Grimm, Curves of Clearlake, located at 14828 Olympic Drive, at 707-994-4888 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ; or Michelle Puntillo, Curves of Kelseyville, located at 3924 Main St., at 707-279-1679 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .