Breast Cancer Awareness
October 21, 2024
In American, 1 out of 8 women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. This means that even if you do not develop breast cancer, likely you know and love someone who has or will. This can be a devastating diagnosis, full of uncertainties, fear, and anguish.
With October being breast cancer awareness month, this is the perfect time to evaluate if you are personally doing what is needed to lower your risks. Self-breast exams are the perfect place to start. These should be done monthly, after your menstrual cycle. The best way to know if something is abnormal, is to know what is normal for you. Many women have fibrocystic breasts and often, especially before and during their cycle, can feel lumps in certain areas of the breast. These are generally benign, but if you do not know what they feel like normally, you will not recognize if there is a change. Any lumps should be checked by a healthcare professional.
Secondly, lifestyle choices to reduce your risk are proper exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, limited alcohol intake, ensuring proper sleep, and breastfeeding. Mammograms are the gold standard as a detection technique. Guidelines state mammograms should start at age 40, however if you have a family history of breast cancer, you may start your screenings earlier. Talk with your healthcare provider about when to start screenings.
If you or a loved one are diagnosed with breast cancer, know you are not alone in your fight. At Erin Inspire Health and Wellness, we focus on supporting you through cancer treatments. We do not substitute for the expertise of an oncology specialist, and we encourage you to find a specialist who you are comfortable with and trust. We can, however, work closely with you to optimize your fight.
Cancer is a scary and life altering word, but you are not alone.
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