Good afternoon, Fam...  Back at it again, trying to find something to talk with you about.  So, I thought I would discuss the CELEBRATION of the MONTH.  The thing is, when I started my research I found out that there are over 100 'things' that are being cited for awareness this month.  Did you realize that October is:  Workplace Politics Month, Sudden Infant Death Syndrome Month, Vegetarian Month, National Depression Education & Awareness Month, National Protect Your Hearing Month, Dyslexia Awareness Month, National Bullying Prevention Month, and National Chiropractor Month?  Although those awareness subjects are important, one the most important to me is BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH.

     Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death among women.  Although rare, men do get develop breast cancer too.  Less than one percent of all breast cancer cases develop in men, and only one in a thousand men will ever be diagnosed with breast. Breast cancer is not preventable, but we can take steps to address it early by being aware of and acting on any symptoms that arise, by doing month breast exams, and by having yearly mammograms or exams by a professional.  

     The first symptoms of breast cancer are usually an area of thickened tissue in the breast, or a lump in the breast or in an armpit.  Per Medical News Today, most lumps are not cancerous, but women should have them checked by a health care professional.
Other symptoms include:

• a pain in the armpits or breast that does not change with the monthly cycle
• pitting or discoloration of the skin of the breast, like the skin of an orange
• a rash around or on one of the nipples
• a discharge from a nipple, possibly containing blood
• a sunken or inverted nipple
• a change in the size or shape of the breast
• peeling, flaking, or scaling of the skin on the breast or nipple

     The CDC says that studies have shown that your risk for breast cancer is due to a combination of factors. The main factors that influence your risk include being a woman and getting older. Most breast cancers are found in women who are 50 years old or older.  Some women will get breast cancer even without any other risk factors that they know of. Having a risk factor does not mean you will get the disease, and not all risk factors have the same effect. Most women have some risk factors, but most women do not get breast cancer. If you have breast cancer risk factors, talk with your doctor about ways you can lower your risk(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/prevention.htm) and about screening(https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/screening.htm) for breast cancer.
Risk factors include, but are not limited to, genetic risk factors, and environmental/lifestyle risk factors.  Genetic risk factors typically include things you have no control over like age, family history of cancer, late or no pregnancy, when you start and when you stop menstruating, dense breast, gender, race, and gene mutations--BRCA1 and BRCA2.  Risk factors that are somewhat preventable are a sedentary lifestyle where you have little to no physical activity, hormone replacement therapy that is prescribed for menopause, heavy alcohol consumption, being overweight or obese, and a bad diet that is high in saturated fat, lacking fruits and veggies.

      Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month.  According to Johns Hopkins Medical center, “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”  While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare professional if there are any changes.  You can find out how to do a breast self-exam on many different websites, but here is one for your information.  http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps 

     A mammogram should be performed at the minimum, yearly, unless otherwise ordered by your physician.  There are many different options in choosing where to get a mammogram. Mobile units, freestanding centers, and traditional hospital and doctor's office settings are all options. For those who do NOT have insurance, Breastcancer.org suggests you try to find a center that offers low-cost or free mammograms. Contact the National Cancer Institute (1-800-4-CANCER) or the American Cancer Society (1-800-ACS-2345) for assistance. Another option is the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (1-888-842-6355), which provides low-cost or free cancer screenings for women without health insurance.

     The National Breast Cancer Organization is emailing out a guide about breast health to every woman who requests it.  All you have to do is go to their website and complete the information.  http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month
Let's stay on top of our health and be diligent about our breast health.  It may not be preventable, but it is treatable and there are MANY survivors living wonderful lives because their breast cancer was detected early.