The Michigan Department of Community Health (MDCH) has launched a fan page on the global social networking site, Facebook. The MDCH fan page is an interactive forum for health-related topics. The MDCH Facebook page will be updated with health and department-related information.

Anyone who is a member of Facebook can join the MDCH Facebook Page as a "fan." Those who are not members of Facebook can still view the MDCH Facebook Page, but you will need to join Facebook to interact.

Through Facebook the department continues to promote the Breast and Prostate Cancer Income Tax Check-offs for Michigan residents to show their support in the fight against cancer by contributing to two cancer funds when filing their state income taxes.

Breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in Michigan, and the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Michigan women. In 2005, more than 7,000 women in Michigan were diagnosed with breast cancer, and nearly 1,500 Michigan women died of the disease in 2006.

Dollars collected go directly to the Michigan Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program, which provides free breast and cervical cancer screening services to low-income women in our state.

Prostate cancer has been the most frequently diagnosed cancer in Michigan since the late 1980s. In 2005, more than 7,500 Michigan men were diagnosed with prostate cancer with 899 men dying of the disease in 2006. Currently, there are more than 71,000 prostate cancer survivors in our state.

Donations designated for the Prostate Cancer Research Fund will be used to support prostate cancer research in Michigan.

One hundred percent of money collected from the funds stay in Michigan. Your donation can make a difference and help save a life of a loved one now and for generations to come.

Learn more about the Breast and Prostate Cancer Income-Tax Check-Offs at www.michigancancer.org or at the Facebook Fan Page MI Tax Check Offs to Fight Cancer.