Hi guys!

As you may or may not have known, October is breast cancer awareness month, and one very important thing you can do to honor breast cancer awareness month is to spread the word.

So to do my part, I decided to share some facts and frequently asked questions about breast cancer. Grab a cup of tea and read on 🙂

1 WHAT IS BREAST CANCER?

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant cells form in the tissues of the breast.

Malignant : tending to invade normal tissue or to recur after removal; cancerous.

2. WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS?

Breast cancer often has no symptoms, but you may notice something you want the doctor to check. Keep an eye out for:

• A painless lump in the breast
• Changes in breast size or shape
• Swelling in the armpit
• Nipple changes or discharge

But even if you have one or more of these signs, it still doesn’t mean you have breast cancer. Remember that most breast lumps turn out to be benign (not cancerous).Still, it’s extremely important that you SEE YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY if you’re worried that you might have breast cancer.

3. HOW OLD CAN YOU BE TO GET BREAST CANCER?

Younger women usually don’t think about getting breast cancer. After all, under 7% of all breast cancer cases happen in women under 40 (U.S.). But it can happen at any age, and it’s important to be aware of your risk factors, regardless of your age.

4. CAN MEN GET BREAST CANCER TOO?

Though breast cancer is most commonly thought of as a woman’s disease, male breast cancer does occur.

Male breast cancer is most common in older men, though it can occur at any age. The risk factors include

• Radiation exposure
• High levels of the hormone estrogen
• Family history of breast cancer

 

5.WHY DO PEOPLE WEAR PINK FOR BREAST CANCER?

The pink ribbon represents fear of breast cancer, hope for the future, and the charitable goodness of people and businesses who publicly support the breast cancer movement. It is intended to evoke solidarity with women who currently have breast cancer. Breast cancer organizations use the pink ribbon to associate themselves with breast cancer, to promote breast cancer awareness, and to support fundraising.

“The profile on pink is playful, life-affirming. We have studies as to its calming effect, its quieting effect, its lessening of stress. [Pastel pink] is a shade known to be health-giving; that’s why we have expressions like ‘in the pink.’ You can’t say a bad thing about it.” Pink is, in other words, everything cancer notably is not. – Magaret Welch

 

Chances are, you or someone you know has been affected by breast cancer. Whether it’s yourself, someone in your family, or a friend, breast cancer is becoming all too common. There are so many ways to honor breast cancer awareness month. From spreading the word, to adopting early detection techniques, taking care of yourself, and knowing your body. These are crucial to winning the fight against breast cancer!

Thank you for reading.

Much love, Ash. xx

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Sources : http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org , http://www.webmd.com, my textbooks 😀

Images are from various google search outlets.