→Pink is Everywhere
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. The vision of looped pink ribbon on banners, clothing, email signatures, sporting events and all sorts of other offerings indicates October has arrived and the Breast Cancer Awareness campaign is in full swing.
Even though everyone should be aware and mindful of their health every day of the year, this campaign is an annual international health month long event, and the purpose is to increase awareness, education, and research of the disease.
According to the American Cancer Society Breast Cancer is the most common cancer among American women? About 1 in 8 women in the U.S. may develop invasive Breast Cancer during their lifetime, and there are more than 2.8 million Breast Cancer survivors in the U.S.
Breast Cancer begins in the breast and can spread to other parts of the body. Early detection is the best defense.
A good habit is to do regular self-examinations. Doing a self-exam of the breast will allow a patient to understand what it should feel and if an irregularity is detected, schedule an appointment with a doctor.
If a patient suffers from swelling, redness or skin thickening, or changes to the nipple or nipple drainage seek medical attention. Do not hesitate. Breast Cancer can spread through the lymph nodes and travel throughout the body.
Women over the age of 40 should talk to their doctor about scheduling a regular mammogram. The mammogram can detect Breast Cancer in the disease’s early stages, and early detection can save a life. Be aware, a patient may develop a pain, or they may have no pain and have no indication of the disease.
Did you know that finding a benign or non-cancerous breast condition is more common than finding Breast Cancer? According to the American Cancer Society, some benign breast conditions or cysts can cause lumps; however, play it safe – it is always best to do a self-exam and get a regular mammogram.
