Sparta The Sparta Township Council has joined local municipalities and states across the nation to proclaim October Breast Cancer Awareness Month in conjunction with the “Tie a Ribbon for the Cure” campaign, sponsored by the New Jersey Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. Starting last week and continuing through the end of the month, the township is tying pink ribbons around trees the central retail business district and urges all residents to do the same. With each ribbon tied, volunteers have laminated attachable “in honor of” tags containing the name of a person whose life has been touched by breast cancer. “The pink ribbon has become the international symbol for breast cancer awareness . The ribbons are a wonderful way to remind women to do their breast self-exam, schedule a clinical exam and get their mammogram,” according to the foundation. Several new technological advancements help women detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. Digital mammography allow radiologists to adjust the contrast and zoom on an image without having to take more X-rays, plus computer-assisted detection programs that highlight suspicious areas on a mammogram and serve as a second opinion. Breast cancer affects one out of nine women during their lifetime, according to the foundation. For more information about breast cancer and the “Tie a Ribbon” campaign, call the North Jersey Affiliate at 908-277-2904 or visit www.njakomen.org/tiearibbon.htm. A woman’s chances of developing breast cancer Age 20 to 29 are one in 2,044 30 to 39 are one in 249 40 to 49 are one in 67 50 to 59 are one in 36 60 to 69 are one in 29 70 to 79 are one in 24 Source: American Cancer Society