HELP ON THE WAY IN BREAST-CANCER BATTLE.

Byline: Daily News Staff and Wire Services

To women battling breast cancer, the fact that October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month may seem like a cruel joke. If you're fighting it now, fought it in the past or watched women you love do either, you know that breast cancer is a year-round, 24-hour-a-day thing.

Awareness this month and every month is important because breast cancer is something that can often be defeated if it's detected early enough. There's a 90 percent survival rate in cases where breast cancer is detected in its earlier stage. Increased awareness increases early detection, which is crucial while researchers work on better treatment and finding a cure.

Since October is the designated month, it's when the fashion industry gears up with special promotions and fund-raising efforts. It's important to remember that while some of these events last only a month, the money they raise will be used beyond October. And some day there will be a cure.

Here's a look at some of the events:

OPI, North Hollywood-based manufacturer of nail polish, has introduced Nicole, a new line of nail lacquers. Dubbed ``Colors With a Conscience,'' the 24-color palette includes shades such as ``Jaded, I Won't Commit'' and ``Blind Date Blues.'' Each bottle is packaged with a silver token that, when placed in one of the thousands of containers at salons across the country, represent a donation to four charity organizations, including Gilda's Club, which provides emotional and social support for cancer patients, their families and their friends.

Pier 1 Imports debuts the Freesia Aromatherapy Candle this month in all its stores in the United States. A combination of jasmine, chamomile and sage essential oils with essences of freesia, the pink candle burns for about 45 hours and costs $12.50. Pier 1 is donating 30 percent of the proceeds from sales to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.

During October, a different pair of designer or brand-name shoes is offered each day at discount prices from 4 to 6 a.m. on ``The QVC Morning Show'' on the QVC cable television channel. Many of the designers will make personal appearances with their shoes, and prices range from $20 to $150 a pair, with proceeds going to breast cancer research and awareness programs. This is the third year QVC has joined with the Fashion Footwear Association of New York for this fund-raiser.

California designer Karen Neuburger has created a special print of roses and pink ribbons in her sleepwear line and is donating a percentage of her sales to the Nina Hyde Center at Georgetown University's Lombardi Cancer Center. Prices range from $33 to $67.

The Estee Lauder Companies have been in the forefront of this campaign and, once again, more than 2 million pink breast-cancer-awareness ribbons will be given away free at all Estee Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Origins and Prescriptives cosmetics counters this month. Additionally, there are special products that benefit the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, the only national organization dedicated solely to funding clinical and genetic research on breast cancer. These include a golden heart-shaped compact with an enameled pink ribbon design for $29.50 at Estee Lauder counters. Also, a full-size Sweet Honey Different Lipstick that is regularly $10.50 will be $7.50 in a silver bag with a mirror at Clinique counters. And Origins is donating $1 from every sale of Starting Over alpha hydroxy treatment gel, priced at $22.50, during October. Also, there will be free breast-cancer-awareness postcards to send to a friend, featuring a photo by Ellen von Unwerth, at Prescriptives counters.

Vaseline Petroleum Jelly has published a pamphlet on ``Celebrity Skin Care Secrets'' that is free to consumers who call [phone] now through Dec. 31. Vaseline made a $50,000 donation to Cancer Care to thank celebrities for sharing their uses for petroleum jelly. The back of the booklet includes a donation card to encourage you to give as well.

Danskin is discounting all performance sports bras during the month of October and donating $1 for each bra purchased to the Komen Foundation.

Bristol-Myers Squibb is donating 10 cents for every one of its consumer products purchased in a Longs Drugs store now through Saturday. Bristol-Myers Squibb brands include Clairol, Keri Lotion, Excedrin, Ban and Theragran.

Zoe, a specialty boutique in Memphis that also sells cosmetics by mail, has three Zoeface lipsticks in black tubes with a pink ribbon motif. The three shades are Sheer Kiss, Pink Kiss and Plum Kiss, each priced at $15. Profits from all sales will go to fight breast cancer. You can order the lipsticks by calling [phone].

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2 Photos

Photo: (1) Each bottle of the new Nicole nail lacquers made by OPI includes a silver token representing a donation to organizations that include Gilda's Club.

(2) The Breast Cancer Research Foundations benefits from sales of this heart-shaped Estee Lauder compact with enameled pink ribbon design.