October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

According to the American Cancer Society, there were 209,060 cases of breast cancer reported in the United States in 2010. In the same year, 40,230 people lost their lives battling this disease.

In Georgia, those numbers were 6,130 new cases with 340 deaths. The number of women (and a few men) who are able to overcome this disease is uplifiting and a triumph of the human will and spirit.

But the numbers are still too high.

We've all known somebody who had to fight cancer. Maybe it was a family member or a friend, a church member or a co-worker. Some of them have overcome their disease. Some did not.

The important thing to know is that there are things that can be done to fight breast cancer.

Routine breast examinations can help find cancerous growths early. The American Cancer society states that women who catch breast cancer in the early stages have more than an 80 percent five-year survival rate when they are treated early.

There are also many groups seeking to rid the world of this disease once and for all. The American Cancer Society, Relay for Life and the Susan G. Komen For The Cure Foundation are all excellent organizations that are raising money to try to combat cancer in everyone.

At the Covington News, our employees are all willingly donating to these organzations, and The News is matching all donations made during the month of October. We would like to encourage other businesses in the community to take similar actions, and we encourage Newton County residents to donate to any reputable organizations to help fight breast cancer.

The Covington News will feature stories and facts about breast cancer during the month of October, so stay tuned.