October is breast cancer awareness month, and pink the official color. In the US, Sony is donating money from the sale of pink laptops to the campaign. Here, you can show your support by sporting a pink bracelet: in 2006 they were available at Chulalongkorn Hospital’s Breast Cancer Center for B100—call 02-256-4991 to find out if they’re doing it again this year. In any case, Pink is a hot color in electronics this season. See if one of these tickles your fancy.

The Sony Vaio CR Series (B46,900, Sony Style) brings out your girl power and still performs as good as any other macho laptop. The color is also not too extravagantly pink so you can still show your support without looking too much like Elle Woods.

Clip this white and pink Bluetooth I Tech Clip Mini (B2,190, Power Buy) headset to your clothes and you no longer have to hold a mobile phone to your head. But then people might think that you are talking to yourself.

Choose from this hot pink PlayStation Portable (B12,590, Game Zone), or if you’re a Nintendo fan, try this lighter-shaded Nintendo DS (B13,500, Game Zone).

The 7.2-megapixel Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W55 (B8,990, Sony Style) and six-megapixel Panasonic Lumix FX10 (B8,990, Power Buy) are great, affordable digital cameras that come in subtle pink hues.

The “mirror phone” Samsung E840 (B9,900, Samsung Plaza) is great for both work and play. Navigate through its functions via a reflective front cover or use it as a mirror to check for unusual lumps.

“Small is the new beautiful,” is the motto of Creative Zen V Plus (B4,290, Power Buy).

To complete your tech campaign, finish your  ensemble with the economical Signo Wireless Optical Mouse (B449, Power Buy).

Fact File

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer found in women—and in certain countries affects as many high as one in 10 females. You are at risk of getting breast cancer if:

• You’re 40 or older
• Your family has a history of getting cancer
• You began menstruating earlier than the age of 12
• You’re a smoker

Detection

The surest way to monitor yourself is you do a self-examination. You can do so by looking at the mirror, seeing if there’s anything unusual—redness, any lumpy areas, bulging skin, etc. Raising your arms above your head can also make it easier for you to notice any irregularities. Next, you should feel your breasts, covering the whole area around them from the armpit to the whole breasts.

You should see an oncologist immediately If you find:

• An unusually hard lump
• Liquid or blood seeping out from your nipple
• A dent in your skin
• Unusually tight skin around the areola
• Noticeably uneven breast size

(Sources: ThaiHealth.net, BangkokBreast.com, BreastCancer.org)

Getting Help

Here are the places you can get tested for breast cancer.

Ramkhamhaeng Hospital

436 Ramkhamhaeng Rd., 02-374-0200/-16. www.ram-hosp.co.th
Their oncology center offers mammography and ultra sound checkups.

Siriraj Hospital

7/F, 100 Years Somdej Phra Srinakarin Buldg., 2 Prannok Rd., 02-411-0241/-9
Thanyaraks Center is dedicated solely to breast cancer research and treatment.

Bangkok Hospital

2 Soi Soonvijai 7, New Petchaburi Rd., 02-310-3000. www.bangkokhospital.com
The “Bangkok Breast Center” covers checkups for both pre and post-diagnosis. They also use digital mammogram technology for more accurate detection. 

National Cancer Institute of Thailand

268/1 Rama 6 Rd., 02-354-7025, 02-354-7028-35. www.nci.go.th
The Pathumraks Fellowship helps more than 800 breast cancer patients and their families cope with the disease through support groups and activities. The fellowship is holding its first official conference on Nov 15. Call the Insitutute for more information.

Directions

Samsung Plaza 2/F Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9585

Sony Style 2/F Siam Paragon, Rama 1 Rd., 02-610-9664/-6

Power Buy 5/F Central Chidlom, Phloenchit Rd., 02-793-7777

Game Zone 6/F Central Chidlom, Phloenchit Rd., 02-793-7777