Breast cancer affects too many of us, whether we are a survivor or the friend or family member of one.

According to the American Cancer Society, "breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About one in eight (12%) women in the United States will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime and in 2013, about 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women."

Although the chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is about one in 36 (about 3%), death rates from breast cancer have been steadily declining, partly because of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as better treatment. Currently, there are more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, a time when people -- from major league sports teams to everyday mothers, daughters, fathers, and sons -- wear pink to show solidarity against a disease that affects us all.