Breast Cancer Awareness

Breast Cancer Awareness

We are in Breast Cancer Awareness month. As such, I wanted to spend time on the importance of awareness of breast cancer. October is the designated national awareness month for reminding people of this disease. It generates donations, it reminds people to perform self evaluations, and schedule annual doctor visits, it also honors survivors of the disease as well as provides for a national moment to pay homage to those who succumbed to it.

Breast cancer is the second most common form of cancer behind skin cancer, and according to www.medicinenet.com one in every eight women in the U.S. develops breast cancer, men are able to get it but the numbers are not nearly as high as they are in women. The importance of having the awareness of your breast can’t be scoffed to the side.

Getting routine annual check-ups with your medical doctor is critical, the American Cancer Society recommends yearly mammogramsfor women aged 45-54 and every two years for women over 55 years of age. Breast cancer in men is rare with about 2400 diagnosed cases a year. Men typically don’t think of being able to get breast cancer and so disregard the same signs and symptoms given to women allowing the spread of the disease. As a result the outcome is usually worse.

Breast cancer survival rates have been on the rise as the number of deaths have been falling, largely due to efforts in an increase in the general publics knowledge of the disease and its symptoms; how to properly perform at home self examines; and signs and symptoms of the disease. Unfortunately for African American women, this group has been found in several studies to have a significantly worse survival rate compared to white women. It is vital that self examination or “knowing your breast” becomes a part of your life. In an effort to to highlight this importance tennis player Serena Williams just released video of herself singing “I Touch Myself” for awareness of breast cancer and in dedication to singer Chrissy Amphlett of the band Divinyls who died in 2013 from breast cancer.

Other than physical changes that can be felt in a mass or observed by a lump (hard and irregular or soft and rounded) on your body what are some other warning signs of breast cancer.

Here is a list of indicators that should get more attention:

– Redness, scales, thickening of the nipple or skin
– Breast and/or nipple pain
– Discharge other than milk
– Swelling
– Skin irritation or dimpling/pits

Also keep tabs on your lymph nodes for swelling as lymph nodes are part of your immune system and some cancers can be detected there before they present in your breast. With that said, lymph nodes can respond to a number of stressors and sicknesses so don’t equate a swollen lymph node to cancer.Remember, no one knows your body like you do. If you notice that something just isn’t normal inspect it further, reach out to your medical professional. Don’t overlook or shoot down something you know to be abnormal within yourself.

We at Genesis hope you make breast cancer awareness a constant self physical examine. We all have women in our lives so please help them out, lets make it a team effort, make conversation of it, ask your loved ones if they have been doing their due diligence on their health, have they had their annual physical assessments done.

Below is a list of resources for information on the topic.

https://www.breastcancer.org/
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/breast-cancer/symptoms-causes/syc-20352470
https://cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast

Disclaimer: This article is intended as a friendly reminder with recommendations. It is not medical advice, direction or prescription of any sort. Please refer to professional services for any health-related questions, concerns and relief.