Although October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month (NBCAM), the NBCAM organization is dedicated to raising awareness of breast cancer throughout the year. During 2009, NBCAM is celebrating 25 years of awareness, education, and empowerment for both women and men afflicted with this disease.
The NBCAM organization is a partnership of national public service organizations, professional medical associations, and government agencies that work together to promote breast cancer awareness, share information on the disease, and provide greater access to screening services.
Its Web site, www.NBCAM.org, is a year-round resource for breast cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, and the general public. NBCAM encourages people to visit the site during October and regularly throughout the year to access updated breast cancer information and resources.
In honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Maxim Healthcare Services would like to share the following information, facts, and resources from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Web site:
• Know about preventative methods: Knowledge is the first and most important step in breast cancer awareness. This includes taking preventative measures such as frequent self-examinations and telling your doctor if you have a family history of breast cancer. This also includes scheduling regular checkups with your Physician with annual screening tests (mammograms), MRI and clinical breast exams to detect cancer early, when it’s most treatable.
• Be aware of risk factors: A variety of risk factors have been linked to breast cancer. Some of them, such as being a woman and having a family history of breast, ovarian, or prostate cancer, may affect your risk quite a bit. Other risk factors may include your diet, environmental exposure to radiation or other harmful things, lack of exercise, as well as smoking, and drinking alcohol in excess.
• Know the early warning signs: The most common signs of breast cancer are a lump in the breast, abnormal thickening of the breast, or a change in the shape or color of the breast. Though for most people, these changes will not mean you have breast cancer, the only way to know for sure is to see your doctor.
• Study the facts: According to Women’s Health.com, one in eight women (12.6 percent of all women) will get breast cancer in their lifetime. But the good news is that 96 percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years. That’s also why more than 1.7 million women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States are still alive. Again, early detection is key.
• Lead a healthy lifestyle: Eating healthy foods, exercising regularly, minimizing alcohol intake, not smoking, and maintaining a weight that’s proportional to your body can also help lower your risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer.
• Talk to your doctor: There are 14 topic cards on a variety of breast cancer issues that you can download and print from the Susan G. Komen for the Cure® Web site called “The Questions to Ask the Doctor About Breast Cancer” series. Each of these cards contains relevant questions to discuss with your doctor about a specific breast cancer topic. These include “If You Find a Lump in Your Breast”, “When Breast Cancer is Diagnosed”, “If Someone You Love Has Breast Cancer”, and “About Treatment Choices”.
• Resources: Breast cancer awareness is comprised of many steps, from being proactive in your care, to knowing your risk factors, to knowing what to ask your doctor. Maxim has found these Web sites to be excellent resources for advice:
– National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
– Breast Cancer Awareness
– Susan G. Komen for the Cure ®
– The American Cancer Society
Again, early detection, awareness, and getting tested regularly are the best ways for anyone to detect cancer in its early stages, and/or to prevent it altogether. The month of October is famous for activities and events that support and raise breast cancer awareness. Some of these include: walks, marathons, fund raisers, and online support groups. This year, the NFL has even partnered with the American Cancer Society to help raise awareness through players, coaches, and referees wearing pink game apparel during the month of October. If you or a loved one is battling breast cancer, you are not alone. There are many resources and a wide range of supports to educate you and help you through your journey.