The month of October is known to be Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Although when I share some of the stats on cancer in this country, you will see why we should be spreading awareness for this disease more than one month out the year.
No matter who you are, I’m sure you know someone who has been affected by cancer at some point in your life.
In 2019, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women in the U.S. as well as 62,930 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women worldwide, claiming the lives of hundreds of thousands of women each year and affecting countries at all levels of modernization.
The fact is the numbers don’t lie, this is an issue that isn’t going away, but we can stay on top of preventing it for ourselves and those in our lives.
Personal stories can be the best way to get over the misconception about the leading killer disease. While early detection is essential, it is hard for young women to open up sometimes. TechMae created a space where women can feel safe to share their pains with one another. Learn more.
Some of the Myths About Breast Cancer vs Facts
As we seek to spread awareness, remember that chances are more than likely someone that you are working with or within your organization will be affected by this disease.
Things that you can start doing today to help spread awareness:
Education is key
Knowing the basic preventative measures you can take as a woman makes a huge difference in your day to day life. Things that you can do to keep your risk factor low are:
Maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise On A Regular Basis
Limit Your Alcohol intake
If you take birth control, know the long-term risk associated with them.
If you have children, breastfeed them
If you have a family history talk to your doctor about how you can lower your risk.
Be Aware of the Early Warning Signs:
•An increase in size or change in the shape of your breast or nipple
•Changes in the appearance of your nipple
•General pain in/on the breast
•Lumps or nodes inside of the breast
•Skin changes like swelling or redness in one or both of your breast
Know the Risk Factors:
- Reproductive History such as early menstrual periods expose women to getting breast cancer.
- Genetic mutation- inherited genes
- Having dense breast- women with dense breast are more likely to get breast cancer
- Personal history of breast cancer- if you have had it in the past- your chances of getting it again are higher.
- Getting older- increases your chances of getting breast cancer, most breast cancer cases are from women over the age of 50.
- Previous medical treatment that used radiation exposes your body to getting breast cancer.
Risk Factors You Can Change Today:
•Taking hormones
•Drinking Alcohol
•Being Overweight
•Not being physically active
•Smoking
•Being overly exposed to chemicals
About 85% of breast cancers occur in women who have no family history of breast cancer. These occur due to genetic mutations that happen as a result of the aging process and life in general, rather than inherited mutations.
If you are a woman fighting this, you don’t have to fight along. At TechMae we created a space for women to find support from other women who have been in your shoes. We welcome women to join our new app and start a support group to find support, or just join our network so you don’t feel alone.
If you want a space online where you can share details about your journey in a safe place, join our community.
You don’t have to battle this monster alone.
If you feel you’re at high risk, talk to a doctor or other health professional.
Breast cancer can be detected at the early stages. Sometimes, it can be discovered after specific symptoms appear. However, most women with breast cancer don’t have signs.
For that reason, screening for breast cancer is paramount.
Ladies, don’t wait. Go get screened. Take a friend with you if you need support, but don’t ignore it.
