12
2012
October 2012
Early detection starts with you Many factors might predispose a woman to breast cancer: age, diet, weight, smoking, and other lifestyle habits. But there is one clear correlation: simply being a woman means being at risk. This year, over 200,000 women will be diagnosed, but there is good news. When it is found early, the five-year survival rate is 98 percent; it is still high, at 90 percent, for all women with breast cancer. The importance of early detection is at the heart of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, sponsored by a network of government and non-profit breast cancer advocacy groups. The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends setting up an individualized early detection plan. The three main tools for early detection are the breast self-exam, the clinical exam, and the mammogram. Depending on a woman’s age and family history, the frequency of each of these can be adapted to optimize her chances of detecting breast cancer at the early, localized stage. The self-exam is recommended for women of all ages: get to know the normal contours and density of your own breasts by running a soapy hand over them in the shower. The soap reduces friction and allows the hand to feel variations in texture. Often, variations and patterns of lumpiness are part of the normal make-up of a woman’s breasts. If anything changes in the breast or in the underarm area, however, see a physician and ask for a clinical exam of the area. For women aged 20 to 39, it is advisable to have a clinical examination of the breasts every three years. After 40, it should be done once a year. Mammograms are recommended on a yearly basis for women over 40.
HEALTH GUIDE
www.havredailynews.com
Three Ways to Help Provide Comfort
For Those Suffering From Breast Cancer (Family Features) Breast cancer affects millions of women, which in turn affects their families and their friends. You don't have to have breast cancer in order to help raise awareness of it and provide comfort. There are things you can do to take on this disease and make a difference in your own life and in the lives of others while providing much-needed comfort and support. Team Up with Friends Multiply your impact on breast cancer awareness by getting a group of friends together to take action: * Host a Fundraising Party. Put together a girls' night out or a potluck dinner party, and challenge guests to bring donations to support breast cancer research. * Get Moving. Sign up as a group to participate in a walk or run event that raises awareness or funds. * Volunteer Together. Check out local breast cancer awareness events and find ways your group of friends can serve together. If there isn't a local event, sponsor one of your own. Visit www.NationalBreast-
Early detection means doing regular self-exams so you know which bumps and irregularities are normal for your breasts.
Cancer.org to find out how. Give Comfort to Others You can personalize and send free virtual Comfort Packages to friends and family via a digital tool on the Hanes Facebook page. For each package sent, Hanes will donate $1 to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (up to $25,000) to promote early cancer detection and provide mammograms for those in need. The Comfort Package is fully customizable with photos, videos, recipes, T-shirt designs, music and messages. Sending a Comfort Package is one of many gestures that can brighten someone's day and help provide support and comfort to a loved one. As a longtime supporter of breast cancer awareness, Hanes has made cash and in-kind donations totaling $1 million since 2009 and is donating up to $125,000 to NBCF this year. Learn more at www.Facebook. com/Hanes or www.HanesPink.com. Buy and Wear Pink Products The next time you are at the grocery store or the mall, think about purchasing the pink version of your favorite items. Your purchase can help raise money as well as awareness for the cause. In addition, wearing your favorite pink items is a stylish way to show support and demonstrate your commitment. Consider wearing pink once a week in October to feel connected to the cause.
5
2012
October 2012
HEALTH GUIDE
www.havredailynews.com