Skip to Main Content
Women of the ELCA
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
  • Ministry & Action
    • Discipleship
    • Justice
      • Human Trafficking
      • Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women
      • Racial Justice Advocacy
      • Racial Justice Advocacy Network resources
      • Domestic Violence
    • Membership
    • Stewardship
      • Thankofferings
      • Faithful Friends
      • Katie’s Fund
      • Gift Planning
    • Special Initiatives
      • Rachel’s Day
      • Raising Up Healthy Women & Girls
    • Scholarships
      • Lutheran laywomen
      • Lutheran Ordained Ministry
  • Resources
  • About
    • History
    • Executive Board
    • Staff
    • Get Involved
  • Events
  • Belong
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Daily Grace
  • Contact
« Back to WELCA Blog

Here’s your alert: Gear up
by Valora Starr

9.19.2016
|
Post

VanCorey_Creative Commons The other day I received an alert on my phone: “October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which is an annual campaign to increase awareness of the disease.”

Sure it’s a few weeks away but, I appreciate the time to gear up.

I’ve been thinking about all of the women that received the news they have breast cancer since last October. My family has been walking with my sister-in-love’s sister since 2011. She is good now after three occurrences.

Then, my younger sister got the news this year. She boldly led us through her self-exam discovery, diagnosis, surgery and radiation.

I thank God that these two women have each other for encouragement and support.

I am grateful, too, for the many organizations, foundations, advocacy and research agencies that work for a cure for breast cancer and support women battling it.  Although I can’t champion every cause, I am going to do more than make a pledge and wear pink this October.

[bctt tweet=”The NBCF suggests that every woman begin with an early detection plan.” username=”womenoftheelca”]

The National Breast Cancer Foundation suggests that every woman begin with an early detection plan.

  1. Get to know the symptoms and signs.
  2. Learn how to perform a breast self-exam.
  3. Perform it each month.
  4. Get an annual clinical breast exam.
  5. Follow your doctor’s recommendation (age and frequency) for a mammogram.

And, I am adding these (because of what I’ve learned from my loved ones going through it).

  1. Talk to the women in your life.
  2. Share what you know and find out what they know.
  3. Be a companion, a cheerleader for those going through it.
  4. Pray for women, the organizations, advocates and a cure.
  5. Give. It’s a proven fact that each donation makes a difference. Consider a gift to Women of the ELCA health initiative Raising Up Healthy Women and Girls as we make our mark in lifting up the well-being of women and girls in our churches, communities, across the country and world.

Valora K Starr is director for discipleship for Women of the ELCA.

+++++++++++++++

Photo by Van Corey | CC BY-NC-ND

Share this post

Categories

  • Post (1,355)
  • News (306)
    • Gathering 2021 (9)
    • Triennial Convention 2021 (7)
    • Just Love Gathering 2023 (3)
    • Triennial Convention 2023 (1)
  • Devotions (98)
  • 2122 (10)
  • Uncategorized (1)
Back to home

8765 W. Higgins Rd.

Chicago IL 60631

800-638-3522

[email protected]

Stay In Touch

Sign up for the WELCA Newsletter

Explore WELCA
  • Ministry & Action
  • Daily Grace
  • Resource Library
  • Events
  • Blog
  • News
  • About WELCA
  • Tools For Leaders
  • Publications
  • Donate
  • Shop
  • Photos
Explore Publications

Bold Cafe

A Lutheran perspective for women of Christian faith or any woman who is interested in how faith relates to the issues facing women today.

Gather Magazine

A mix of articles, theological reflections, devotions and stories of comfort and challenge that help readers grow in faith.

Cafe Podcast

Subscribe to our podcast:

Click to subscribe

© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.
  • Privacy Policy
  • Sitemap
  • Contact
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube
© Copyright 2025 Women of the ELCA. All Rights Reserved.