In addition to promoting cancer awareness, this year's Breast Cancer Awareness Month will try to educate the public about another disease that predominately attacks women.

The bone ravaging disease, osteoporosis, will share centre stage with breast cancer this month as the TB Cancer and Health Association tries to address more women's health issues.

Although breast cancer will dominate the month's agenda, TB Cancer and Health's Dorothy Morgan-Swan pointed out that the month was the perfect opportunity to spotlight other female medical issues.

"We have purchased the two mammography machines and got our accreditation and we will continue to proceed with our long-term education programme,'' explained Ms Morgan-Swan. "The Breast Cancer Denim Day funds will go towards maintaining the programme, staff and providing coverage to those who come in and don't have insurance for a mammogram.

"But this year we wanted to venture out into other women's health issues and there are some big ones out there.'' After much consideration, it was decided that awareness regarding osteoporosis needed to be improved.

"I never really realised how many women were affected with osteoporosis,'' she confessed. "And since I have started researching this, I have noticed a lot of women in the community who suffer from it and who are at risk.

"It's a pretty debilitating disease and sufferers can die from its complications,'' she added. "And the costs this disease inflicts on the health care system amazed me.

"It's quite a serious disease but it can be almost 100 percent preventable, just by getting enough calcium and vitamin D.'' Osteoporosis is detected via bone density testing, a service TB Cancer and Health hopes to provide in the near future.

"The funds raised from the Fun Walk this year will go towards purchasing a bone densitometre to test for osteoporosis,'' said Ms Swan. "The machine costs about $60,000.

"I think the interest is there in the community for the walk and I think what people really like is that they can see that we are using the money raised from each Fun Walk on exactly what we said we would.'' The $20 registration packs for the walk are on sale at The Sports Locker in Windsor Place, the Sportseller in Washington Mall and at the TB Cancer and Health Association on Cedar Avenue.

The registration packs contain a T-shirt, newsletter, book mark and pink ribbons to give out to people who pledge the walkers.

"It would be nice to have the tester so people will not have to go away to be tested for Osteoporosis,'' Ms Swan added. "Because we do not have the testing machine here, it is hard to keep track of the number of people affected with this disease.

"It is important to know what your risk factors for the disease are,'' she pointed out. "A risk assessment has to be done by a doctor to see if someone needs to be tested and how frequently they should be tested.'' And to reflect the Fun Walk's new approach, the Association decided to change the name of Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

"To accommodate this, we changed the name from Breast Cancer Awareness month to Women's Health and Breast Cancer Awareness Month,'' she said.

But don't think the name change means TB Cancer and Health is turning its back on promoting breast cancer awareness -- Ms Swan said there were plenty of cancer education events planned for the month of October.

Fighting breast cancer "Denim Day, the day when the public gives a donation for the chance to wear denim to work or school, will be held on October 8,'' she said.

"Businesses can just set it up on their own and send in the funds or they can call 296-7288 if they need some guidance or assistance setting it up.'' Aside from the popular Denim Day, TB Cancer and Health will host a live Breast Cancer TV Forum which will feature the director of education for the Susan G.

Komen Breast Cancer Foundation in the US.

"Linda Frame from the Susan G. Komen Foundation, the largest private breast cancer foundation in the world, will speak on genetic testing and the latest in breast cancer research,'' she explained. "We are inviting the public to attend the forum, which will also feature locals speakers, to attend and ask questions.'' Ms Swan urged locals to attend the conference as the disease affects women of all ages regardless of their station in life.

"About 30 to 40 women turn up with the disease in Bermuda each year,'' she revealed. "We are definitely seeing younger women turning up with the disease.'' The forum will take place on October 14 at the Bermuda Cathedral Hall in Hamilton at 8 p.m.

The Cathedral will also be the site for the annual Memorial Service, a celebration of the survivors of breast cancers and a remembrance of women who lost their battle with the disease.

All are welcomed to attend the 3 p.m. service which takes place on October 24.

Fun walk: Last year hundreds of locals participated in the Breast Cancer Awareness Fun Walk. This year's event will take place on October 6 at 6.30 p.m.

The risk of developing breast cancer: By age 25: one in 19,608; By the age of 30: one in 2,525; By the age of 35: one in 622; By the age of 40: one in 217; By the age of 45: one in 93; By the age of 50: one in 50; By the age of 55: one in 33; By the age of 60: one in 24; By the age of 65: one in 17; By the age of 70: one in 14; By the age of 75: one in 11; By the age of 80: one in 10; By the age of 85: one in 9.

Source: The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.