Breast Cancer Awareness Necklace: A Simple Symbol of Support
The pink ribbon is a known symbol for breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer awareness necklaces and other accessories for this purpose are also prominent during the month of October which is recognized now as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This form of cancer is the most growing kind especially among women, although males are not actually totally spared from it. Sometime last year, there came a craze on the social networking site, Facebook, where women were posting on their pages the color of their bra. Apparently, this is to support awareness on breast cancer. There are many efforts to raise awareness on this sickness because although cancer maybe an incurable disease, early detection can still result to a long time survival.
For every woman’s piece of mind, here is how to detect breast cancer by your own. You can be start by undressing from waist up. Lie down and put a pillow under the left shoulder. Put your left hand behind your back and start feeling your left breast using your right hand’s 3 middle fingers. Start at the outer edge then work around the left breast in circles, getting closer to your nipple as you do it. When finished, try squeezing the nipple gently and check for any discharge. Do the same process on your right breast.
Aside from the fluid discharge, be sensitive to the following symptoms as well:
– Any distinct difference in an area on either breast.
– A change in the contour, shape or size of the breast
– When you feel a lump or mass even as small as a pea
– Any marble-like formation under the skin
– A thickening area near the breast or the underarm that does not go away
– Any inflamed feeling on the breast skin or nipple
– Redness on the breast skin or nipple
It is advised to do this self-examination every month. If you are aware that cancer cells run in your family, then there is more probability for you to get it so be on the lookout and be extra vigilant.
Now, prevention is always better than cure. Even if you have a high risk in getting this disease, use that small percentage of you being free from it. Live a cancer preventive lifestyle. Here is how:
1. Know your ideal body weight according to your height and maintain it.
2. If you cannot avoid alcohol, then minimize your intake. Studies have shown that alcohol is an established risk factor when it comes to breast cancer.
3. Eat lots of fruits and vegetables, as many as possible.
4. Do exercises. Do it regularly and don’t stop. A 30 minute cardio exercise, like running and brisk walking, will do.
5. Stay away from fatty diets, except Omega 3 fats that can be obtained from oily fish like sardines, salmon and tuna.
6. Get the right carbs. Good carbohydrates are in whole grains, beans and legumes.
8. Minimize exposure to xeno-estrogens. Don’t take estrogens unless they are medically prescribed and follow the dosage indicated.
9. Maintain a positive mental outlook in life.
Cancer is somewhat a taboo for some. Those who are inflicted are perceived to be doomed because there is still no significant improvement in modern medicine to totally cure this disease. Patients become hopeless and some will just succumbed to death thinking that it is an inevitable end, anyway. Luckily, there are different organizations that are continuously exerting efforts to help these cancer victims, giving them a positive outlook in front of cancer adversity. We can also do our own share in as simple as wearing pink ribbons or breast cancer awareness necklaces to actively participating in awareness promotion events. Cancer is tough, but we should not stop fighting.
Breast Cancer Awareness Necklace: A Simple Symbol of Support
