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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

           From library.rehabmart.com
  
If you are seeing more pink than usual in your daily life lately, it is probably because October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM). Since it began 25 years ago, NBCAM has come a long way in promoting breast cancer awareness by bringing organizations together to share information on the disease and provide greater access to screening services. One of these organizations is the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, which was the one of the first groups to use the color pink in their Race for the Cure event in 1991. Since then, countless organizations have followed suit and offer everything from pink coffee cups to pink M&Ms to help raise funds for breast cancer research and to raise awareness of the disease.
  
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While most would agree the "think pink" promotional efforts of many breast cancer organizations have been very successful in making the general public aware of this devastating disease, it is important to remember it is not just a clever marketing campaign and that thousands of lives have been and will continue to be touched by breast cancer. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among women in 2011, and about 2,140 cases of breast cancer are expected to occur among men.

  
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Although there is no proven method of preventing breast cancer, the American Cancer Society recommends that women maintain a healthy weight, engage in physical activity on a regular basis, be aware of the risks of Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) in menopausal women, stop smoking and minimize alcohol intake. In addition to these prevention strategies, experts agree that early detection is key in fighting the breast cancer. Even though it is not a perfect early detection tool, the American Cancer society still recommends yearly mammograms for women over 40 in addition to a Clinical breast exam (CBE) by a health professional every year. Women in their 20s and 30s should have a CBE by a health professional, at least every 3 years.
  
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It is also important that women of all ages become aware of the appearance and feel of their breasts so they can detect any changes and report them to their doctors. This can be done through a regular breast self exam (usually monthly after their period) or by simply looking and feeling breasts while bathing or changing clothes. The main goal is for women to know how their breasts look and feel and to notice any changes. Things to watch for include: changes to the feel of the breast or underarm area (knots, lumps, pain, swelling, etc); changes to the look of the breast (unusual redness, darkening, puckering or dimpling of the skin); and changes to the nipple area (discharge, inversion of the nipple, or itchy, rashy, flaky, scaly or sore nipples). While these changes to the breast may not necessarily be a sign of breast cancer, it is important to report them to your doctor or gynecologist right away.
  
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As you are seeing pink items at Rehabmart, the grocery store or mall this October, please remember that breast cancer awareness is vital but so is educating yourself and your loved ones about the disease, prevention measures and early detection methods. To find out more, download this breast cancer information sheet: Breast Cancer. You will find out the latest information about breast cancer and maybe even help save the life of your mother, your daughter, your friend or yourself.
  
From library.rehabmart.com


Rachel Huber, Medical Consumer Writer
and
Hulet Smith, OT
RehabMart Team Leader & CEO