The American Cancer Society, with the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries, established October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in 1985.
“Breast cancer awareness month is an annual international health campaign organized by major breast cancer charities every October to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure.” according to Sullair
With being a woman it’s a lot you have to do to maintain yourself and your health, such as having supplies for your period, going to your OB/GYN. The list goes on
When you get to a certain age you have to get a mammogram to make sure that you don’t have breast cancer.
When is the appropriate time to get a mammogram? Am I too young for breast exams?
“The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends starting screening at age 50 for women at average risk while the American Cancer Society recommends beginning mammograms at age 45,” said Celette Skinner, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Population and Data Sciences at UT Southwestern Medical Center.
I’ve been doing self-examination for years and next year when I turn 40, I’m going to go get a mammogram.
I feel like that’s a good age for me to get checked and I know cancer runs in my family so I have to look out for “my girls”.
Why is it important to get mammograms or self-examinations? It can help make sure that you don’t have breast cancer. Detecting anything that is off early can save your life and also your breast.
But with mammograms it’s a chance that it can be completely accurate or not.
As stated by the CDC “Some risks from mammograms include false results and exposure to a small dose of ionizing radiation during the procedure.”
CDC continues to say that “A false-positive test, one that indicates you may have cancer when you truly do not, may lead to extra expenses, testing, and stress.
According to The Cleveland Clinic these are the steps needed for self-breast exams
- Stand in front of a mirror, you can lie down on your back or in the shower.
- Use your index and middle finger to firmly feel around to see if you feel any lumps.
- Also feel around under your armpit
- Squeeze your nipple to see if you have any type of discharge
- Look for changes in the skin on your breasts.
