October is approaching, and there is something scarier than Halloween to be aware of this month. Doctors will diagnose an estimated 252,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer this year. Breast cancer awareness month is important for women to take charge to keep breast cancer from continuing to take the lives of so many.
3 Steps for Breast Cancer Awareness
Lower your chances of breast cancer ‘this October with these helpful steps for breast cancer awareness.
Monthly self-breast exams
Women are encouraged to perform self-breast exams as a form of breast cancer awareness. The main focus of a self-breast exam is for a woman to get to know to their breasts thus making it easier for them to feel a bump they hadn’t felt before. Doctors recommend women perform self-breast exams monthly during the time after their menstrual period. The more breast exams you perform, the more aware you are of how your breast feels normally and can instantly sense an unusual bump.
Try a Mediterranean diet
Having a healthy diet is known as a factor to help the fight against breast cancer. Women who follow a Mediterranean diet are less likely have lower chances of breast cancer. This diet focuses on many plant-based foods, such as fruits, nuts, vegetables, whole grains, and legumes. It also replaces unhealthy fats with healthy fats like olive oil and red meats with more fish. Give this diet a try this October as a healthy initiative.
Genetic testing
Have you lost many female relatives to breast cancer? Genetic testing is a great way to determine your chances of obtaining breast cancer in the future. The testing will take your family history to determine what your chances are. Your doctor will discuss these results with you and help you come up with a healthy plan to help prevent breast cancer from occurring. It is scary to know if you have a chance of developing breast cancer but it is better to know than to wait for it to develop in the future.
Schedule a Genetic Testing
This October, celebrate breast cancer awareness month by scheduling a genetic testing and counseling appointment at NVSCC. We will discuss the results with you and counsel you through the next steps to take. Schedule an appointment with us today!