October is apples ripening on their trees, cooler (ha!) weather, the first chance of rain, Halloween, apple pies, winter garden plantings, canning applesauce and grape juice, harvest, and...
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
October is Downs Syndrome Awareness Month.
October is Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Month.
October is Adopt a Shelter Dog Month.
Actually, October has more observances than I can list here, including Photographer Appreciation Month (thanks, Rachel), National Vegetarian Month and, ironically, Eat Country Ham Month. Fortunately, someone else listed them for me. But, here in Mandyland the above four are the ones that are near and dear.
Cancer, in general is a savage beast that needs to be destroyed. Immediately. It attacks and kills and maims. We're past time to defeat this beast. Far past time.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, after skin cancer. The American Cancer Society estimates that, in 2010, there will be 207,090 new cases of breast cancer diagnosed in the United States alone. That's the population of the 98th largest city in the US. (Rochester, NY - FYI) In one year.
We know what to do, ladies.
Schedule a mammogram every year after you turn 40. Sure, it sucks. (Or so I'm told.) But c'mon! We're the ones who, in the words of the immortal Carol Burnett, are expected to push a watermelon through a straw. This should be a piece of cake. In fact, reward yourself with a piece of cake after your appointment. With pink frosting.
From your 20's and 30's, have a Clinical Breast Exam at your Annual Appointment every three years. No...don't have your Annual Appointment every three years. (Hello? Annual?) Schedule a CBE every three years.
Conduct a Self Exam looking for lumps, swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk. ACS reminds us that most of the time these changes are not breast cancer, but, in my world, better to be safe than sorry.
Breast cancer usually affects women over the age of 40. But it can affect men too. And, right now, I know of two women through mutual friends who are battling breast cancer in their early 30's. I'm the mother of a daughter and while it doesn't run in my family, I would love for breast cancer - all cancer - to be something that she doesn't ever experience, directly or indirectly.
Put on your pink ribbon. Put on your big girl panties. Go get your exam. Then...spread the word.
And if you're feeling especially generous, donate:
3 comments:
How did you know I have big girl panties? The are belly firming thank you :)
Clinical Breast Exam? You mean where the health care provider basically does the self exam for you? I don't think I've ever had an annual exam without getting that exam.
Mandy - Because, well, you're a mom and all the moms I know have big girl panties. With belly firming. :D
Zannie - Same here, but according to the ACS website, it's something you should ask for. I could only think that it was something that isn't "standard".
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