THE ISSUE

National Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a reminder that women should be vigilant in trying to detect the disease early.

When readers picked up their edition of the TimesDaily on Wednesday they received a stark reminder of the dangers associated with a deadly disease.

The pink paper was in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

The numbers related to breast cancer are startling.

It is the second-most common form of disease in women, trailing only skin cancer.

It kills about 40,000 people a year.

One in eight women is diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetimes.

About 2.5 million in the United States are survivors.

In addition to the statistics and medical advice from experts, the pink edition contained stories of inspiration from local breast cancer survivors. We thank these survivors for sharing their stories and helping spread words of encouragement to others who may suffer from the disease.

The key to the best outcome, as Dr. Steven Snyder of Sheffield told us, is early detection and diagnosis. This can lead to a better chance of survival and, in some cases, less invasive treatments.

“If you have any abnormal symptoms, you need to see your doctor,” said Snyder, an obstetrician and gynecologist. “You never need to sit and watch it.”

We hope women — and men, who also develop breast cancer — will heed this advice. We encourage women to talk to their doctor and follow the recommendations for regular breast cancer screenings.

From the football field to the pages of newspapers, we will see a lot of pink in unusual places during October. Each appearance is another reminder of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.