10/02/2026
October is recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Unfortunately, most Americans are already aware of this because they have a mother, sister, aunt or friend who has been diagnosed with breast cancer, or they themselves may even have a personal experience with this terrible chronic disease. It is the second leading cause of death among women, taking the lives of 500,000 women last year. To put it in perspective, one in eight women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lifetime.
In honor of their goal of educating women, here are a few tidbits of information from nationalbreastcancer.org that you should take a moment to read:
* Exercise boosts the immune system, so even as little as three hours of exercise per week (about 30 minutes per day) can begin to lower the risk of breast cancer. This doesn’t require going to a gym either; power walking is more than sufficient!
* A nutritious, low-fat diet (30 grams or less) with plenty of fruits and green and orange vegetables can help reduce the risk of developing breast cancer. A high-fat diet increases the risk because fat triggers estrogen production that can fuel tumor growth.
* Smoking is a contributing risk factor for developing breast cancer. Additionally, second hand smoke is also a risk factor for cancer. So if you are a smoker, help yourself in a significant way and join a smoking cessation program to help you stop. The day you stop smoking the healing can begin and each week in which you are smoke-free, you give yourself increasing advantages for a healthier life.
* Most importantly, give yourself a breast self-exam once a month! Look for any changes in breast tissue, such as changes in size, feeling a palpable lump, dimpling or puckering of the breast, inversion of the ni**le, redness or scaliness of the breast skin, redness or scaliness of the ni**le/areola area, or discharge of secretions from the ni**le. If you discover a persistent lump in your breast or any changes, it is very important that you see a physician immediately. Women should perform their breast self exam 7-10 days after their menstrual period starts which is also when their breasts are the least tender and lumpy. If they are no longer menstruating, then she should select the same day of the month (first of the month for example) and mark it on the calendar to remind herself when to perform this self exam. What to look for is a change from last month’s exam to this month’s exam. If any unusual symptoms or changes in your breasts occur before your annual physical, do not hesitate to see the doctor immediately.
We urge you to continue to educate yourself, and the women in your life about the risks and the signs of Breast Cancer before it has the chance to affect you or someone you love!
