The stories are heart warming and heart wrenching.

The stories are sadly touching and inspirational.

The stories are unique, but often similar.

When it comes to breast cancer — or cancer period — no gray area exists. No other sides must be considered. Cancer is a disease that must be faced head on. It is one that requires a tough fight and a disease that must be defeated.

Today’s edition of The Vicksburg Post is pink for a good reason. It is not just because these are important stories to tell, even though they are.

It is not just because great information needs to be shared.

It is not just because those we know who are in the midst of their own battles and need our support.

It is more personal than that.

It is because we all have a mother.

We would not be here today were it not for our mother carrying us, delivering us and raising us.

One in eight women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer in her lifetime.

That is far too many mothers, far too many sisters or wives.

Each year, it is estimated that more than 246,660 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer and more than 40,000 will die.

That is far too many mothers, far too many sisters or wives.

On average, every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer and one woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes.

That is far too many mothers, far too many sisters or wives.

As you have read today, many stories exist — stories of both loss and of celebration; stories of victories over the disease and stories of those the disease has taken from us.

But thanks to continued research and advancements in treatment of this type of cancer, and other cancers, breast cancer is one where we have seen the tide turning.

Today, more than 2.8 million breast cancer survivors are alive in the United States.

We are pink today, not because it is the appropriate month to do so — this being Breast Cancer Awareness Month — but any moment taken to celebrate our victories over breast cancer and educate more about the disease is appropriate to do so.