October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is officially recognized as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month in the United States as a reminder of the serious disease. Many retailers honor Breast Cancer Awareness Month by featuring light pink colored products in their stores or ecommerce sites. While the sentiment is appreciated, its purpose is to encourage both men and women to schedule mammograms.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month Unfortunately, about 1 in 8 women in the US and 1 in 1,000 men in the US are diagnosed with invasive breast cancer throughout the course of their lifetimes. Certain cases are more aggressive than others, but one thing is certain: the best thing to do is to take a proactive approach.

The first thing adults should do on a monthly basis is conduct breast self-exams. Professionals highly recommend doing breast self-exams about 10 days after the onset of menses. Women who are no longer menstruating (this is most often women who have gone through menopause) should choose one day a month to conduct self-exams and do them on the same day each month. To perform a breast self-examination, follow the guidelines on breastcancer.org . Doing a breast self-exam is a convenient way to conduct an initial screening for breast cancer.

The next thing to do is to have your doctor examine your breasts. Even if you did not find any abnormalities in your breasts while conducting a breast self-exam, it is still a good idea to have a doctor do an exam, as they may find something unusual that could call for an MRI, breast sonogram, or diagnostic mammogram.

The final way to take a proactive approach to breast health is to get a mammogram. Mammograms are strongly recommended for women over 40 (mid-late 30s if breast cancer is hereditary within the family) and all patients with abnormal breast tissue or appearance. While mammograms may be uncomfortable for a short while, they are instrumental in helping detect the early signs of breast cancer and potentially saving lives.

The sad reality is that breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer in American women. While new treatments are developing every day, breast cancer is still prevalent. It is therefore crucial that all adults take precautionary measures to ensure early detection.

If breast cancer has impacted your life or the life of someone you know and you need medical supplies, CWI Medical is here to help. Our surgical bras provide support following breast procedures like mastopexies and biopsies. Additionally, we provide nutritional supplements in liquid, powder, shake, and gelatin forms for cancer patients going through chemotherapy.

Remember that while October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is always the right time to be proactive with breast health. For more resources or information, please feel free to contact us at CWI Medical today.