With the end of October fast approaching many of us are probably stressing over midterms or trying to make a decision on our Halloween costume. Besides celebrating candy corn and dressing up in the alter ego of your choice, the month of October is placed aside to raise awareness and educate people about breast cancer. It is estimated that this year alone there will be 230,480 new cases of invasive breast cancer in women1
While I am not trying to scare anyone with statistics, it is important that as females we are aware of what to notice and lower our risk. Invasive breast cancer originates in the lining of milk ducts, which then penetrates into the surrounding breast tissue and has the possibility to spread to other parts of the body2. Most cases of breast cancer are invasive.
When I was little I was blissfully unaware of breast cancer and remember being annoyed at having to wait in the doctors office for my mother to get a mammogram (the downside of being a late-in-life child). As college students we don’t yet have to experience this yearly process. However, it is recommended that those with a history of breast cancer in their family to undergo exams. Busy balancing school and a job I don’t always treat my body the best. In a recent visit to the campus doctor she stressed the importance of giving a self-exam. The most important thing is to know your body in order to recognize any changes. There are many resources to help with a self-exam.
1. Stand looking at a mirror with your arms shoulders straight and your arms at your side. Look to make sure that your breast are their usual color and size without any visible swelling. It is important to notice any redness, soreness, and bulging of the skin. Also, look for any sign of fluid. After this you should raise your arms and look for the same changes. If you do notice any you should contact your doctor.
2. While lying down use your right hand to feel your left breast. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom. Move your fingers up and down vertically to feel for any lumps. For the skin beneath apply light pressure, medium for the tissue in the middle, and deep tissue in the back. Repeat this method with your left hand on your right best. 3. After lying down repeat this method while standing or sitting. Different body positions will allow you to feel for lumps that you may not have been aware of otherwise.
Another preventative step is maintaining a healthy lifestyle. As always this involves maintaining a healthy weight, a weight that is best for your own body, and a physically active life. This is important because weight gain of 20 pounds or more after the age of 18 can possible increase your risk of breast cancer
4. Alternatively, loosing weight may lower your risk. Alcohol in moderation is key. College students are notoriously known for over indulging in alcohol and this plays a factor in increasing the risk of breast cancer. It has been shown that a diet high in folic acid can help counteract the damage produced by alcohol (although, like most things moderation is best). Folic acid can be found in leafy green veggies and oranges. Or just take a multivitamin. Knowledge of these preventative measures lowers your risk of undetected breast cancer progressing but it is essential to obtain regular checkups.
If you wish to help the fight against breast cancer the American Cancer Society will be holding a 5k walk on October 29th. More information can be found here
http://makingstrides.acsevents.org/site/TR?fr_id=35981&pg=entry .
1. http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/Statistics.html#USwomen
2. http://cancer.stanford.edu/breastcancer/facts/
3. http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp
4. http://ww5.komen.org/uploadedFiles/Content_Binaries/806-376.pdf 5. http://ww
5.komen.org/BreastCancer/HealthyBehaviorsampRisk.html