Breast Cancer Awareness

This is breast cancer awareness month and it’s vital that women not only acknowledge this subject this month but on a monthly bases. The statistics are 1 in 4 cases of cancer is said to be from breast cancer and early detection is important as well as prevention. I can’t stress enough, how important it is to live a healthy lifestyle. Eating healthy is not just about depriving yourself of the foods you much rather eat but it’s about balance. Eating in moderation is the key when it comes to eating not so nutritious foods such as the 100-calorie Little Debbies. Although the 100-calorie Little Debbie is better than the regular high calorie Little Debbie, a serving of raspberries or blueberries would be a more nutritious choice. Berries are loaded with antioxidants that can help fight free radical cell damage that can contribute to cancer. Also, making sure 20-30 grams of fiber is a part of your daily diet. This can easily be met if you’re consuming 5 plus servings of fruits, veggies a day and making whole grains a part of your daily diet. Exercising for most days of the week is important too. Take a 20-minute jog or a 30-minute brisk walk will not only help provide you with a days worth of exercise but it will help relieve stress.

Monthly self-breast examinations are a must. If your anything like me, you can easily get wrapped up in lives daily demands, especially if you have a family. A schedule is a part of my life and if it’s not written down in my schedule, it might as well not exist. If this is the case for you, you might want to consider scheduling yourself a self-examination after your monthly cycle. It’s recommended that you do a breast exam after your cycle because breast tissue is “more normal” during that time because of the drop in hormones. Every woman’s breast tissue is different, which is why you should do this on monthly bases to become familiar with your breast tissue so you can determine what is normal and abnormal for you. For more information on what to look for during a breast exam, you can visit http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/BreastSelfExam.html. In addition, every woman should know about her family history. There is a greater risk for breast cancer if you have a family history. Women who are over the age 40 should get a mammogram every 1-2 years, if they’re not at heightened risk. If you have a greater risk of breast cancer or breast problems due to family history, you should get a mammogram before age 40 and when in doubt, ask your physician. Life is short but it can be very sweet when we not only care for those around us but ourselves as well.