Breast Cancer Not Awareness for October Only

By Blogger Klarkin

Happy October Cdiamonds Family! I hope you’re all enjoying the autumn weather and staying active!

Can you believe we’re only two months away from the holidays?! The past several months have definitely be challenging, but we learned to survive and support each other during this time. And, this month is no different...we’re supporting Breast Cancer Awareness.

Cdiamonds Cosmetics is joining the effort to help build awareness and knowledge about breast cancer. Every October this global awareness campaign gains the spotlight to increase awareness, advocate for support, and educate about early detection, treatment and care.

Breast cancer is more common in women. It starts in the breast when cells begin to grow out of control. Cells usually form a tumor and often can be felt as a lump or detected on an x-ray. Unfortunately, the exact cause of breast cancer is not known. This is why I feel the need to help build awareness. We still have so much to learn in finding a cure and eliminating the disease.

The more we educate ourselves about breast health, the better equipped we will be to lower the risk or fight it. The Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) states, “women that keep a healthy weight, make healthy food choices, stay physically active, and decrease their alcohol intake may lower their risk”. However, it’s equally important to know there are some risk factors that are out of our control. They include getting older, going through menopause after age 55, family / personal history, ethnicity, and of course being female, to name a few.

It’s important to know that breast cancer symptoms are different for each woman and some have no symptoms at all (www.cdc.gov). For this reason, regular mammograms and self-breast exams can help with early detection. Ladies, we need to become more familiar with the look and feel of our breasts. Let’s be proactive by performing monthly self-breast exams. It’s suggested to do this once a month at the end of your cycle (mayoclinic.org). Talk to your health care physician to learn the best way to perform a self-breast exam. And, while performing the self-breast exam if you notice any of the warning signs (lump, hard knot, swelling or change in breast shape/size, dimpling of the skin, sudden discharge from the nipple) contact your health care physician as soon as possible.

We can’t forget about our men. If you’re a fan of the 1971 movie ‘Shaft’, you know the name Richard Roundtree. You might be wondering what this has to do with breast cancer. Well, I’ll tell you! Richard Roundtree was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1993 and is a cancer-free survivor of 27 years. He now advocates for awareness of the disease in men with the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Know Your Score Men’s Health Initiative (Helen Zachary). A few other names that might be familiar are Montel Williams (Talk Show Host / TV Personality) Ernie Green (American footballer), Peter Criss (former drummer for rock band KISS), Edward Brooke (1st African-American elected to the Senate), and Mathew Knowles (Father of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles) (Brian Vanhooker, Emily Bicks). All of these men are breast cancer survivors.

Although breast cancer is more common in women, men are susceptible to it too because they have breast tissue. According to the CDC, approximately one in every 100 breast cancers diagnosed in the United States is in a. As men grow older, their chance of getting breast cancer becomes greater. After the age of 50, men have an increased chance of breast cancer. Obesity, liver disease, and having a close female relative with breast cancer are a few other factors that can increase their likelihood (www.cdc.gov). Men also experience some of the same signs as women; lump found, swelling or change in size / shape of the breast, nipple discharge, etc. However, since men may be less likely to discuss any warning signs, they might not seek medical attention until their symptoms are more severe. Sadly, the cancer could have already spread by this time and decreased their chances of survival.

While we become aware of the symptoms affecting women, we cannot forget the men in our lives. Men’s breast health is starting to get more attention and discussed more openly. We have the opportunity to get the word out and help keep our men healthy!

Please get in on the discussion of women and men’s breast health. Getting regular exams to recognize signs is crucial to saving lives. Join the campaign by getting educated and get involved!

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC.gov (www.cdc.gov) is your online source for credible health information and is the official Web site of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-exam/about/pac-20393237 © 1998-2020 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). All rights reserved.

Zachary, Helen (article) June 15, 2012; Healthcare Zone, Posted in Cancer - (article title) Famous Men With Breast Cancer – Male Celebrity Health; https://healthcarenewsblog.com/famous-men-with-breast-cancer-male-celebrity-health/

Vanhooker, Brian (article) October 16, 2015; 6 Famous Men Who Were Diagnosed With Breast Cancer-As the KISS drummer reminds us, “You don’t need boobs to get breast cancer”; https://www.menshealth.com/health/g19547905/male-celebrities-with-breast-cancer/?slide=5

Bicks, Emily (article) October 1, 2019; Heavy.com; Entertainment, Beyonce, Mathew Knowles Has Breast Cancer: How Rare Is That for Men? https://heavy.com/entertainment/2019/10/matthew-knowles-beyonce-dad-breast-cancer/