Breast Cancer Awareness
This post is a compilation of several posts that I have written here on Curvatude and on my old blog PSD.
Since 2006 I have run a campaign highlighting the importance of Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Why?
Because in my mind, anything that effects the health of women (and men to a much smaller degree) in such a devastating manner as this disease does, should be on everyone’s get the word out list.
And obviously not just during one month but it is great that there is such a huge push during what has become known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
I normally do links to products and host giveaways but this year I just wanted to share information.
I have spent time checking the sources of the information that I have previously posted to make sure that I am highlighting the latest information correctly. Of course I am writing this post as a resource to bring about awareness and not as medical advice.
Earlier today I watched Giuliana Rancic talk about just being diagnosed with breast cancer and how she had kicked and screamed about going for a mammogram because at age 36 she felt she was too young.
As I watched, in addition to chiding myself for not having gone for a screening since my 40th birthday, I hoped that women, in particular young women would use her example as an impetus to perform self exams, get screened and encourage others to do the same.
Below are links to some of the main topics that I wanted to highlight:
- Do you know what makes up a breast and What Breast Cancer is?
- Male breast cancer does exist and although it makes up less than 1% of all cases of breast cancer, it is usually not detected until it is at an advance stage. More on Breast Cancer in Men.
- Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. Here are some of the Common Breast Cancer Symptoms.
- You are your own best defense. Monthly Self Exams.
- As noted in Giuliana’s case, age nor family history are complete indicators of risk, so while I am nobody’s doctor, it just seems to me that the standard recommendation of waiting until you are 40 to have a mammogram may not be best. Learn more about Mammograms and Diagnostic Tests.
- Great to have screening options but you should also be aware of the Potential Screening Test Risks.
- There are things that you can do to Cut your Breast Cancer Risks.