One in every eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

In Tennessee, over 3,500 women each year receive new diagnoses of breast cancer.

The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation is out to help women change that. The Komen on the Go tour camped out in Pigeon Forge this week for one of the stops in its 144-city, 36-week tour.

"What Komen is all about is really getting education out there," Lindz Pace, tour execution coordinator, said. "We are trying to spread that service to communities and college campuses where the information might not be as readily available."

After entering the pink Komen trailer, women were invited to be part of an interactive computer tutorial. The information provided included a step-by-step guide to breast self-examination.

After completing the tutorial, participants could then further explore the Web site, with links to local services available.

"Komen doesn't provide the services," Pace said. "But what we do is hand you the resources in order to help you find the needed services in your area on your own."

Komen on the Go was designed to create awareness about breast cancer prevention, especially to those who may think the information pertains to them.

"One of the major points of this service is to educate young women," Pace said. "Breast cancer is striking younger and younger women, so we're trying to really emphasize the need to make a habit of breast self-exams."

Taking a proactive stance about breast health could have a long-lasting impression on life.

"Women performing breast self-exams detect changes in the breast tissue earlier," Pace said. "Early detection means that there is a 96-98 percent rate of survival.

"All women need to do this regularly. It's a major step for protecting our own health."

source:www.zwire.com