Seasonal Splendor - October Issue

Seasonal Splendor

Table of Contents

1.

Breast Cancer

facts you should know

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and thanks to things like Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, breast cancer gets quite a bit of attention.

Research shows that one in eight women in the United States will develop breast cancer. “It’s not necessarily something that someone else gets; a huge portion of the population is at risk,” says Jonathan Bank, M.D.

With the help of some top-notch breast cancer specialists, we’re here to set the record straight and give you 10 breast cancer facts you need to know. Knowledge is power and when you’re armed with the correct information, you can make the best decisions about your health care — and spread the word to your friends.

2.

Regular mammograms are necessary.

The current recommendation is for all women age 40 and above to get an annual mammogram.

Mammograms are covered by insurance and there are many organizations that provide free ones for women who don’t have insurance - you shouldn’t let your financial fears get in the way of a life-saving screening.

“Regular mammograms are the best test doctors have to find breast cancer early,” says Dorraya El-Ashry, Ph.D., chief scientific officer at the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Potential pain shouldn’t scare you.

A mammogram requires each breast to be squeezed between two plates so images can be taken — a procedure that is completely safe, but some women find uncomfortable or painful. The good news is that discomfort is temporary and there are things you can do to lessen it.

You can take an OTC painkiller, and ask your technician if they will allow you to adjust the mammogram compression yourself.

3.

Mammograms are just one component of breast cancer screening.

The same day that your diagnostic mammogram takes place, an ultrasound of the breast is often done as well. This provides a different kind of picture of the structure of the breast. An MRI is sometimes conducted as well.

5.

Not all breast cancers form a noticeable lump.

“They often do form a lump, but that’s when they’re quite large,” says Dr. El-Ashry. You want to find tumors well before you can feel them. Plus, one form of breast cancer known as lobular breast cancer does not form a hard lump that you can feel. If anything, it’s like a thickening of the skin over the breast in that area. Get to know your breasts so you can be aware of changes

Young women can develop breast cancer.

“While peak incidence is in women in their 60s and just slightly below that in their 50s, there are young women who get breast cancer,” says El-Ashry.

In fact, research shows about 11% of all new cases occur in women younger than 45 years of age.

“Unfortunately we don’t exactly know why, but breast cancer really spares no age group and no race.”

7. You can lower your risk.

A healthy lifestyle is pretty well established to be able to effect significant risk reduction, Getting regular exercise, following a healthy diet (such as avoiding processed foods, eating more fruits and vegetables, and cutting back on red meat), limiting the consumption of alcohol, and not smoking are proven to help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer.

As the field of precision medicine evolves, we might one day know what specific lifestyle factors make the biggest difference in risk reduction

6.

Men can develop breast cancer too.

While the majority of people who get breast cancer are women, men can and do get breast cancer. In fact, about 1 in 830 men will be diagnosed in his lifetime.

That’s an incidence rate of about .001 of that of women but that still results in a significant number of men having to undergo breast cancer treatment.

8.

Breast cancer is often treatable .

Breast cancer survival rates have improved substantially over the past several decades, largely due to improvements with early detection of disease through mammographic screening and advances in all aspects of treatment.

Combinations of these various treatment advances have resulted in the high majority of breast cancer patients being long-term survivors that continue to lead full, productive lives.

Air Fryer Squash Soup Ingredients

1/2 lb. butternut squash, peeled

cut into 1-inch pieces

medium carrots, cut into

in. pieces

large onion, cut into wedges

cloves garlic, 2 whole

thinly sliced, divided

Fresno chile,

sprigs fresh thyme

tbsp. olive oil, divided

pepitas

tsp.

paprika

cream & crusty bread,

Directions

Step 1

In large bowl, toss squash, carrots, onion, whole garlic cloves, chile, thyme, 2 tablespoons oil and 3/4 teaspoon salt. Transfer to air-fryer basket and air-fry at 400°F, shaking basket occasionally, until vegetables are tender, 30 minutes. Discard thyme sprigs.

Step 2 Meanwhile, in small skillet on medium, cook sliced garlic in remaining 2 tablespoons oil, stirring, until garlic begins to lightly brown around the edges, 2 minutes. Add pepitas and paprika and a pinch of salt and cook 1 minute; transfer to a bowl.

Step 3

Transfer all but 1/2 cup squash to blender, add 1 cup water and puree, gradually adding 3 more cups water, pureeing until smooth.

Reheat if necessary and serve topped with sour cream and spiced pepitas and with crusty bread if desired. Serve topped with remaining squash.

Yields

Servings

Cute Pumpkin Faces to Upgrade Your Classic Jack-O’-Lantern

There are plenty of Halloween ideas you can carve, draw and paint!

Skeleton Pumpkin Face

Recreate this spooky little guy by stacking two pumpkins on top of each other. Finish them off with a good coat of white paint and black accents for the face and ribs.

Plant

Pumpkin

We’re obsessed with the idea of turning your pumpkins into planters. You can carve any face you’d like and use the greenery as hair!

Any plant will dopothos, grass tufts, ivy or even your outdoor mums!

Kitten Pumpkins

Show off even your littlest pumpkins by turning them into black cats.

Paint mini pumpkins with black paint and let dry completely.

Add rhinestones for eyes, embroidery thread whiskers and pom-pom noses with hot glue. Cut out cat ears from velour paper and glue each to a toothpick. Stick toothpicks into the top of the pumpkins.

Pastel Pumpkins

Some pastel pumpkins could add a cool contrast to your spookier Halloween decor. These are like mini art pieces — and they don’t require you to pick up a knife!

Lion Pumpkin

To make: carve the mouth and eyes.

90’s Style Pumpkins

For this easy ghost craft that (brightly!) nods to the ‘90s, you’ll need colored adhesive vinyl and brightly colored acrylic paint.

Smoky Pumpkins

After carving the perfect pumpkin face, amp up its spookiness with a powder cannon. Simply twist the bottom before placing inside the pumpkin and watch the smoke ooze out.

Face Mask Pumpkin

To make this spa-going pumpkin face, simply paint a “face mask” onto the pumpkin.

Stretch a shower cap onto the pumpkin’s “head” and pin it in place. Print images of cucumbers and glue them on.

Cut nose from a smaller pumpkin; paint black and let dry. Attach to large pumpkin with toothpicks. Halve and hollow a small orange pumpkin for snout; secure with wood skewers. Halve and hollow a small orange pumpkin for ears, cut flat on one side; secure with toothpicks.

Pin faux mums around face for mane.

Cow Pumpkin

We dare you to find a mooo-re adorable pumpkin! Start by cutting out the cow nose and ears with brown leather. Cut out forehead pattern from a corn husk. Hot-glue each piece to the bottom of your pumpkin. Hot-glue seeds for nostrils, black buttons for eyes and dried bunny tail grass tops for horns.

Mustache Pumpkin

All the details on this pumpkin can be easily created with modeling clay. Even the mustache!

Spooky The of CMG Dogs

Conveyance is a team of animal lovers, here are a few of the costumes that some of our furry family members will be wearing for Halloween this year!

Click Here for a version you can color!

BODIE Shelby, Marketing Production Manager

He may not want to dress up, but he sure makes a cute dinosaur!

Have you ever seen a cuter hot dog?

SAGE Gina, Digital Marketing Manager

BEA & TEMPY

A classic witch and skeleton are ready to Trick or Treat!

Becca, Senior Graphic Designer

ROOSTER Heather, Digital Media Director

Our gentle giant had to be Babe the Blue Ox!

LOKI & THOR Taylor, Marketing Manager

Dressing up as their namesake duo!