5 ways Anybody can Fight Breast Cancer
A great portion of women around the world is heavily affected by breast cancer.The true cost of cancer is largely undocumented, which causes many families to face an onslaught of unexpected expenses outside of the medical costs, such as wigs, getting to and from appointments or the special foods required for a healthy diet. It is imperative to have sufficient dread-disease cover in place to help alleviate financial strain.
5 ways Anybody can Fight Breast Cancer
1. KNOW THAT IT’S NOT ALWAYS A LUMP
You’d call your doctor if you felt a lump, but would you notice if your breast changed shape? ‘Swelling or redness could be a sign of inflammatory breast cancer, a rare type that's more common in young women,’ says www.breastcancer.org founder Dr. Marisa Weiss. Another red flag: skin that appears dimpled like orange peel.
Download an app like Dr. K’s BreastChecker, and use it for a better self-exam.
2. WHAT LOWERS YOUR RISK
There’s a lot you can’t control about breast cancer – your genes, when or if you have children – but you still have some power over it. ‘Studies show that women who exercise regularly are 25% less likely to develop breast cancer than those who are less active,’ says breast-cancer specialist Dr Melissa Pilewskie.
Even a brisk walk can burn fat and decrease oestrogen, both factors that have been linked to cancer risk. Aim for 30 minutes five days a week.
3. TWENTY-FIVE
The centimeters you’ll need if you want to donate your hair to cancer. The hair is used to make wigs for cancer survivors, bringing a little comfort to women undergoing treatment.
When cutting, make a ponytail, tie it with an elastic, cut above the elastic and secure bottom of the ponytail with another elastic. Place ponytail in an airtight ziplock bag. Drop your 25cm (or longer) onytail off at your local Cancer Care Centre.
4. CELEBRATE THE 3D MAMMOGRAM
There’s some amazing new technology in the world of cancer screening. In clinical trials, 3D mammography was shown to be more accurate than a traditional scan, increasing the etection of more invasive cancers by 41% while also cutting back on false alarms. 3D digital mammograms are fully covered by most medical aids.
3D mammography can detect an abnormality of just 3mm in size, and ‘when an abnormality is detected at less than 1cm in size, statistics have shown there’s a 98% cure rate,’ says Dr Sumi Padayachee, specialist breast radiologist and founder of Arya Stana Bone & Breast Care.
Early detection means less invasive and less aggressive treatment is needed to remove cancer.
5. HELP A FRIEND THROUGH IT
DO send a card. In the age of Facebook, it’s an important physical reminder that you’re thinking of her, says survivor and supportgroup manager Elissa Bantug. ‘Just make sure you tell her it’s okay if she doesn’t respond.’
GIVE your leave days. In the US, a growing number of companies have policies in place that allow employees to donate paid time off to a co-worker who’s sick. Although this practice is rare, try to motivate with your human-resources department for it to be implemented.
SAY ‘I’m going to drop off dinner. What sounds good?’ suggests Hollye Jacobs, who documented her own journey with breast cancer in the book The Silver Lining (AtriaBooks). Questions like ‘What can I do?’ can feel overwhelming, she says. ‘Be specific about the help you can provide – it removes the burden.’And tell your friend you are happy to simply drop the meal off – she does not need to invite you in.
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