A simple, but sinister six-letter word has the power to instantly stop us all in our tracks — cancer.

Today’s edition of this newspaper is wrapped in a special edition printed on pink paper. The color has become a symbol denoting breast cancer awareness across the country and for good reason.

Breast cancer is pervasive.

Approximately 1 in 8 women in America are expected to develop breast cancer in their lives.

Although predominantly affecting females, men can also contract breast cancer. A male’s lifetime risk is something in the order of 1 out of a 1,000.

Once upon a time, the breast cancer diagnosis often came with a looming realization that the result would be death.

Significant research into causes of breast cancer and ways to treat it have greatly improved survival rates, though the diagnosis still arrives with a looming sense of dread.

Today is dubbed National Mammography Day to provide awareness to the importance of women getting a routine screening mammogram to help identify early cancers.

Early detection is a key to improving outcomes.

We encourage all women to make the time to have the screenings done. As many breast cancer patients will attest after their diagnosis, they only wished they had made the time for the simple test rather than letting other life issues get in the way of taking care of their own health.