Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Cancer has affected us all at some point. We all know someone who has been through it, and unfortunately it's likely most of us know someone who passed away because of it. This month is breast cancer awareness month. Here are a few things you should know about breast cancer as well as ways you can be involved in raising awareness.
Breast cancer diagnosis is more common than you might think.
Did you know that 1 in 8 women in the UK will develop breast cancer in their lifetime?
Know the signs of breast cancer and how to check your own breasts.
There are five important symptoms you should know to look out for:
Dimpling, or puckering to the skin around the areola and nipple.
A crusty rash on the areola.
Nipple discharge.
Change to the appearance or direction of your nipple.
A change in size or shape of the breast.
Swelling in your armpit or around your collar bone.
Constant pain in your breast or arm pit.
It is also important you know how to check your breasts for lumps. The infographic below gives you all the information you need.
Breast cancer has more than just the "obvious" effects on the body.
As someone who was diagnosed with PND, anxiety and depression, mental health awareness is important to me. You may be surprised to know that despite there being a rise in the diagnosis of a variety of mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, 84% of women with breast cancer are not told about the possibility they could develop these issues long-term. As well as making sure people are aware of how to check for signs of breast cancer to get treatment sooner, we should also be raising awareness of the other effects such a diagnosis could have on the person in question.
How can you raise awareness?
Finally, I want to encourage you to do your part to raise awareness. For example, an amazing group of ladies met up on Portobello Road, and had a photo taken by Becky Egan Photography in their bras!
Although not all of us may be that brave, it is important for us to do our part and help raise breast cancer awareness, for our grandmas, our mums, our sisters, our daughters and our friends. Here are a few ideas to get you started.
Wear pink throughout October. A simple statement and easy enough to do.
Buy and wear a pink ribbon pin which not only raises awareness but also benefits charities that support those affected.
Join a campain with Wear it Pink.
Donate to a charity such as Wear it Pink.
I hope I have given you enough information to help you be smart about both checking your own breasts and also raising awareness with others.