From sister to sister, mother to daughter, husband to wife, and friend to friend, we share the same concern for Breast Cancer. Although we talk about our children, our careers, our dreams and desires, we rarely talk about something that could end up taking our lives. Ignoring the threat of breast cancer won’t make it go away. Reminding each other of the importance of better breast health will at least help reduce our risk of contracting the disease, and reminding one another about the importance of regular breast self-exams is still our best protection. If you love someone ask them “Have you done your breast self-exam this month?” Don’t wait and wish you had!
Statistics show that one in seven women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year. How many women do you know… Your mother, Sister, Daughter, Aunt, Teacher, Grandmother, Niece, A Friend? What is astounding is the more you talk to people about breast cancer the more you realize that breast cancer seems to touch everyone. The disease has either invaded your family, or attacked a friend, or a friend of a friend. If and when it abruptly enters your life, you’ll find yourself asking “How could I have avoided it?” or “How can I live through this?” The answer lies in awareness, education, and healthy lifestyles – things we all need a little more help with.
You may be aware of the threat breast cancer poses to the men and women in our lives. However, you may be surprised to learn some of the facts surrounding this disease;
- Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women.
- A woman will be diagnosed with breast cancer every 3 minutes.
- Men can get breast cancer too.
- Our risk for breast cancer increases with age.
- African Americans have the highest death rate from breast cancer than any other racial/ethnic group in the
U.S. - Through early detection, we can increase our rate of survival from breast cancer to over 96%.
These are some of the facts you can share with your community, and convey the message that we can win the fight against breast cancer! This is a disease that touches all ages, all genders, and all ethnic backgrounds. It forever impacts the lives of the children who lose their mothers to breast cancer. It devastates the men and women who fight beside their spouse to help them through their treatment. These situations are something that we can prevent, and by sharing the news about breast cancer detection and raising awareness within our circle of friends and co-workers, we can make a difference!
New on the market is a breast self-exam kit called the Breast Chek™ Kit which is an FDA-Cleared, patented, Class II medical device (which means you can obtain it without a prescription) designed to help promote regular self-exams, as well as make it easier to locate and identify potential abnormal lumps in the breast. Created from two pieces of polyurethane film filled with a non-toxic lubricant gel, the Breast Chek™ Kit enhances the sensation of the fingertips and allows for easier detection of tiny masses in breast tissue. The product is available through www.BreastCancerAdvocate.com . If it encourages people to perform regular self-exams, then it is worth this endorsement. If it helps someone detect an abnormality early enough to be successfully treated, it is priceless.
Small items, such as bracelets, lapel pins, hats, t-shirts, and other items displaying the pink ribbon are popular retail items found in almost every store. Their purpose is to raise awareness of the threat of breast cancer – and possibly cause someone to stop and talk to the person holding or wearing the item. If you have a story to share, share it with them. This is how our message is spread. The message is a simple one, yet the affect may be life-changing……“Early detection saves lives”.
Don’t be afraid to talk about it. Don’t be afraid to learn about it. Remember that knowledge is power, and we have the power to fight breast cancer!
To learn more about Breast Cancer and what YOU can do, please visit: www.breastcanceradvocate.com
