OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH
Support those going through the fight
Breast cancer awareness month is also known as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in America. It is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease, raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure, and also to educate people of the importance of early screening. According to the World Health Organization, breast cancer is the second most common cancer to affect women.
RISK FACTORS FOR BREAST CANCER
The American Breast Cancer Foundation notes that certain habits or behaviors can increase a woman’s risk for breast cancer. The good news is that women who understand those certain habits or behaviors and breast cancer, can avoid those behaviors to decrease their risk of developing the disease. The following habits can increase the risk of breast cancer:
Alcohol Consumption: Creastcancer.org notes that researchers have uncovered links between the consumption of alcoholic beverages and hormone-receptor positive breast cancer
Sedentary Lifestyle: Exercise consumes and controls blood sugar and limits blood levels of insulin growth factors. That’s an important connection as Insulin growth factor can affect how breast cells grow and behave.
Smoking: Smoking has long been linked to cancer, and breast cancer.org notes that smoking has been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in younger, premenopausal women.
Unchangeable Risk Factors: Unfortunately some risk factors for breast cancer are beyond women’s control. For example The American Breast Cancer Foundation notes that roughly two out of three invasive breast cancers occur in women age 55 and older. Women 55 and older are encouraged to prioritize cancer screening.
Gender and family history are two additional unchangeable risk factors for breast cancer.
Women are much more likely to get breast cancer than men.
In addition to monthly self-exams, women age 40 and older are encouraged to get a mammogram once a year.
For more information please visit American Breast Cancer Foundation at www.abcf.org
WEAR PINK!
Wearing a Pink Ribbon represents hope for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses that publicly support the Breast Cancer Movement. It is intended to evoke solidarity with women who currently have breast cancer.
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