Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Most people know
what breast cancer is, but sometimes forget the significant role it plays in
many lives. The reason for Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to increase
awareness of the disease and to help encourage individuals to make a plan for
early detection.
What is Breast Cancer? It’s a group of cancer cells – a malignant
tumor – that starts in the cells of the breast. Cells are the building blocks that make up
tissue, and cancer begins in these cells. Tissue is found in our breasts and
other parts of the body. Sometimes, cell growth doesn’t happen as it should –
new cells can form when the body doesn’t need them or old cells do not die like
they should. When this happens, the build-up of cells forms a mass of tissue.
We call this mass a lump, growth or tumor. When malignant tumors develop in the
breast, this causes breast cancer. Blood vessels branch out into tissues
throughout our bodies and cells can spread by breaking away from the original
lump (or tumor). When cancer cells travel to other parts of the body and begin
to damage other tissues and organs, it’s called metastasis.
Due to increased popularity in the Internet/smart
phones/tablets and other mobile devices, we have so much information in regards
to breast cancer, right at the tip of our fingers. What I want to focus on with
this post, is early detection!
Early Detection is key in the fight against breast
cancer. Early signs of breast cancer could be the discovery of a lump or a
change in the breast tissue or skin. One way to catch this change in breast
tissue, is to perform a breast self-exam. Women should perform a breast exam at
least once a month and any changes that are noticed should be discussed with a
doctor for follow-up. Bright Pink® is a non-profit organization that
provides support to women who are at high risk for breast and ovarian cancer. Note the chart explaining the steps for a Breast Self-Exam. Remember, the breast
self-exam is for early detection purposes and should not replace care from a
medical professional.
Visit http://brightpink.org/programs/support-community/breast-self-exam-email-reminder/ for more information.
Mammograms are another way to help with breast cancer detection. A mammogram is a type of x-ray that allows a qualified specialist to examine the breast tissue. Medicare pays for one mammogram a year for women 40 years of age and older and most private insurance companies do the same. If you are a self-pay patient, ask your health care provider about “social responsibility mammograms”. These mammograms are reserved for individuals not covered under any health insurance but still have the right to a breast screening.
Of course healthy habits can help reduce your risk
factors for breast cancer and other illnesses.
Trying to maintain a healthy weight, exercise, eating a lot of fruits
and vegetables, avoiding tobacco products, limiting alcohol consumption and
regular screenings all contribute to an overall, healthier lifestyle.
How can you help the fight against breast cancer? Get
involved. Donate, fund raise, volunteer, become a sponsor or just spread the
word about early detection. There are so
many organizations with helpful information on fighting this disease.
National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. www.nationalbreastcancer.org Susan G. Komen – Race for the Cure www.komen.org
Breast Cancer Awareness www.breastcancerawareness.com
Comments
Post a Comment