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Carla Howery's breast cancer wasn't lethal at first. After a mammogram detected a lump in her breast in 1994, she underwent chemotherapy and her doctors believed the treatment worked. But the Takoma Park resident's cancer has since returned, poisoning most of her body and threatening to shorten her life.

Howery, who has been diagnosed with Stage IV breast cancer — the last and most serious stage of the disease — said she wouldn't wish her experience on anyone, and yet wishes everyone knew about it.

That's because for half of the world's population, breast cancer is simultaneously one of the most common and most dangerous diseases. This year in Maryland, almost 4,000 will be diagnosed with it, according to the American Cancer Society.

There is no definite cure for it. And unlike other cancers, patients can't eliminate one of the highest risk factors for getting it: their gender.

And so, in honor of Howery and countless others, women across the nation are clad in pink this month, talking, advocating and teaching about the deadly disease for national Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

It's a stark contrast to 30 years ago when talking about the disease was a taboo subject, Howery said.

"It used to be that women were embarrassed … in part because breast cancer is almost entirely a woman's disease," she said.

But Howery said society and technology have since progressed, to the point where pink-ribbon parades draw crowds of women marching for a cure, and a diagnosis of breast cancer has shifted from a death sentence to something that is possible to cure.

It's a phenomenon of women accepting their risk and doing something about it, said Debra Pollak, the executive director of Cancer Care Services for Adventist HealthCare.

"Women are taking much more control of their health," Pollak said.

Pollak said since 1990, the death rate associated with breast cancer has plummeted while the number of people getting screened has risen. Pollak credits months like October for the positive attention.

But despite an official month, an official color and an official ribbon, experts say there are still many widespread myths about breast cancer.

Myths such as the one that breast cancer only affects women age 40 and older is why Sharnika Merricks, the community outreach specialist for Montgomery General Hospital in Olney, spends her time educating younger women about the deadly disease.

Last week, Merricks spoke with 10 adolescent girls at the Wheaton Recreation Center about their risks.

"There's a lot of programs geared toward older women," she said. "And younger women do get breast cancer."

While it's not as common, women as young as age 20 need to have breast checkups with their doctors every few years, experts say.

And age and gender aren't the only two factors, Pollak and Merricks said. Race plays an important role, as black women are more likely to be diagnosed with a more aggressive form of cancer than any other race. Pollak said biology plays a part and Merricks said education about early detection is lacking.

"Statistically speaking, white women get breast cancer more but black women are twice as more likely to die from it," Merricks said.

But for a disease that has no surefire cure or prevention technique, educating women about it can be tricky, she said. The only real prevention is catching breast cancer in its early stages.

It takes time, regular doctor visits and knowledge of one's own body, she said.

Experts say by age 20 women should be conducting monthly self-exams to familiarize themselves with what's normal and what could be a dangerous lump. Merricks said the self-exams are important, as women know their own bodies better than others who could conduct the exams.

Experts agree it's imperative that women receive a yearly mammogram after age 40.

Howery said when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer at age 44, a routine mammogram caught what she and her doctor couldn't feel. She said she was lucky at the time to catch it at such an early stage. And although the cancer came back after six years, Howery has lived longer than her doctors told her she would.

"A Stage IV disease is incurable but treatable," she said, citing more advanced treatments for her extended life.

However, not every woman who is diagnosed with breast cancer is going to die, Pollak said. Pollak said 89 percent of women who have breast cancer live at least five years, to a point where their risk is significantly reduced. And catching breast cancer at its earliest stage has a 98 percent survival rate, she said.

Howery said the one piece of advice she has for women is to be their own advocate and get the proper screenings.

"No one is going to check on you that you did or didn't do it, so it's important that you care for yourself," she said.

With awareness and advocacy that extends beyond October, Howery said there's hope in overcoming what she calls a very serious disease.

"Have fun and wear the ribbons, but do something significant that will shape the future," she said.

Awareness for

every woman

-Age 20: Women should start a monthly self-breast exam to continue throughout life. Ask a nurse or doctor how to correctly examine your breasts and do it around the same time every month.

-Age 20-30: Women should visit a doctor every three years for a routine check-up. This is a good time to assess your personal risk for breast cancer.

-Age 40: This is the most vulnerable age range. Women should have a mammogram, or x-ray, and a routine breast check-up with a doctor once a year for the rest of their lives.

Source: American Cancer Society