Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a global campaign held throughout October every year to raise awareness of breast cancer, promote earlier diagnosis, and support those people affected. It is the perfect time to focus on breast health and awareness. Many people also choose to take part through fundraising events and educational activities, such as Wear It Pink Day, which is on October 23 rd this year.
Understanding Breast Cancer Awareness
According to the charity, Breast Cancer Now, one in seven women in the UK will get breast cancer in their lifetime. But early detection means treatment is much more likely to be successful. You can check your breasts at any time of year, but Breast Cancer Awareness Month focuses on breast health, education and awareness. This annual event gently reminds people that early detection is important, and it is simple to check your breasts regularly and be proactive about your health.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month also reminds us that anyone can get breast cancer. It mostly affects older women, but 2,300 women under 40 are diagnosed in the UK each year. Men can also be affected by breast cancer, although it is much rarer, with around 370 men being diagnosed in the UK annually.
Knowing Your Breasts
There are many factors that affect the risk of developing breast cancer, including age, genetics and lifestyle. It is important to know what is normal for your own breasts, so checking regularly is the key to recognising when there are changes.
Checking your breasts or chest only takes a few minutes. There’s no special technique, it’s as simple as TLC: Touch, Look, Check.
- Touch your whole breast area, including up to your collarbone and armpits. Feel for any lumps or swelling, puckered skin or anything new or unusual.
- Look for changes, such as dimpled skin, a rash, a change in colour, nipple changes, unusual discharge from the nipple, or a change in the size or shape of the breast.
- Check anything you notice with a GP. Most breast changes are not cancer. But the sooner breast cancer is found, the more successful treatment is likely to be.
Breast pain by itself is not usually a symptom of breast cancer. But breasts can change for lots of reasons, including reaching puberty, during your period, pregnancy and breastfeeding, and the menopause. So, get into the habit of checking yourself regularly, so you can spot any changes easily.
Screening and Looking After Your Health
Here in the UK, NHS breast screening is offered to women aged from 50 up to your 71st birthday. Everyone registered with a GP as female will be invited. If you’re transgender or non-binary and you would like to be invited for breast screening, ask your GP surgery for advice.
NHS breast screening uses X-rays, called mammograms, to look for cancers that are too small to see or feel. It is important to attend recommended breast screening appointments, as these can help to detect problems early, and ensure you receive medical advice when needed.
As well as attending breast screening appointments, there are many other ways you can look after your health to minimise breast cancer risks.
These include maintaining a healthy diet, getting plenty of sleep and managing your stress. Those who exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight are also less likely to develop breast cancer than those who are overweight or obese.
Drinking alcohol also increases the risk of breast cancer in women. Cancer Research UK suggests there is no safe level of alcohol, so the more you can cut down, the more you can reduce your risk. Smoking tobacco increases the risk of getting breast cancer, so again, if you do smoke, it is worth trying to cut down.
Be aware that genetics can also come into play and having a mother, sister or daughter diagnosed with breast cancer increases the risk of you developing breast cancer. But having relatives with breast cancer doesn’t mean you will automatically develop it. Cancer Research UK states that most women who have a close relative with breast cancer will never develop it themselves, but it is worth being vigilant in terms of checking your breasts.
Taking a Proactive Approach to Your Health
The adage of prevention being better than a cure is true in the case of breast cancer. If you take a proactive approach and check your breasts regularly, then you will have a much better understanding of your own individual health and you will notice any changes as they arise.
Prevention is a key part of the ethos behind the range of personalised, holistic therapies available at The Ozone Clinic. These therapies are designed to support overall health and wellbeing and the team at the clinic endeavour to work towards a healthy future for all – naturally.
One person who recommends The Ozone Clinic is Jessica, who visited the clinic after being diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer. The clinic’s founder, Laura, is a nutritional therapist, so she looked at Jessica’s diet closely and made some personalised recommendations, which were designed to address what was lacking in Jessica’s diet, and generally complement the chemotherapy process. Laura also suggested Jessica should try Ozone Sauna Therapy and PEMF therapy twice a week during the chemotherapy period, to minimise the side effects of chemotherapy.
Ozone Sauna is a powerful therapy which fights free radicals and microbes, increases blood circulation of oxygen and boosts the immune system, and Jessica had this the day after her chemotherapy sessions.
PEMF promotes cellular repair and provides antioxidant electrons which stop free radicals. PEMF also promotes health and longevity and restores cell metabolism to heal and energise the body.
Jessica said both the Ozone Sauna and PEMF were comfortable processes, which left her feeling energised. In addition, she found she didn’t have any side effects from the chemotherapy other than some tiredness, and she generally felt well enough to work from home throughout her chemotherapy treatment.
She said the personalised therapies she had at The Ozone Clinic made a huge difference to the way she felt during chemotherapy, which demonstrates that personalised wellbeing support can work well alongside appropriate medical care.
Better still, the combination of chemotherapy, diet changes and the personalised holistic therapies meant that after 12 weeks, the tumour which was originally 3cm had reduced to 9mm.
You can listen to Jessica’s story here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-
x8pVVSSLjg
Conclusion:
During this Breast Cancer Awareness Month, why not join in by making a pledge to yourself that you will be more proactive about your health throughout the year. This includes checking your breasts regularly, getting to know what is normal for your own body, and speaking to a healthcare professional if you have any concerns.
You can also explore how The Ozone Clinic can support your individual health and
wellbeing goals by booking a free discovery call to find out more about the holistic
therapies on offer and how they can be be tailored to your needs.
Book your FREE Discovery Call today and take the first step towards a healthier you: click here.
References
https://breastcancernow.org/get-involved/breast-cancer-awareness-month
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/risks-causes
https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/touch-look-check
https://breastcancernow.org/about-breast-cancer/awareness/signs-and-symptoms-of-breast-cancer
https://www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/risks-causes/risk-factors
https://www.nhs.uk/tests-and-treatments/breast-screening-mammogram/who-breast-screening-is-for/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/breast-cancer-in-women/symptoms-of-breast-cancer-in-women/
PEMF
Ozone Sauna Therapy
The Ozone Clinic
Why I Believe Health Should Be Personalised, Not Prescribed