Breast Cancer Awareness
Cancer is the great life ruiner. Every single year, millions of women around the world are affected by some kind of cancer. They must now go to chemotherapy, rearrange their lives to adapt to their new constant illness, take weeks or months off and leave work to heal correctly, negotiate with their insurance on what they should be paying for, and find a way to pay for their medicine. Having cancer is so intense and unrelenting that many people need therapy after they are diagnosed so they can deal with the unbelievable stress it causes to their life. But through the power of breast cancer awareness, we can all do our part and ensure that those affected by breast cancer and breast cancer survivors will not go unheard. This article will talk about all of the things we can do to make people more aware of breast cancer and find ways to help those who are dealing with it, and who have survived it. Remember that cancer affects one person at a time, but if we band together, we can become a system that is more powerful and stronger than cancer could ever be
What is cancer, and what is breast cancer?
Cancer is an overall term for the different types of cancers out there. We’ll be looking at breast cancer in this article, but there is also skin cancer, brain cancer, colon cancer, prostate cancer kidney cancer, stomach cancer, and many others.
To put it in layman’s terms, cancer is what happens when a cell forgets to die. All of our cells have life cycles and when our cells get old, they die and are flushed into our bloodstream and then removed out of our bodies through our urine and feces. But a cell that has become cancerous is a cell that not only keeps living but also keeps dividing. These undead cells dividing create more undead cells which then slowly creates growths and tumors in whatever part of the body the cells are in. Cancerous tumors can invade nearby tissues and form new tumors. Benign tumors don’t break off and spread to different body parts.
Remember: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
So, this means that breast cancer is the division of undead cells that start in the breasts of women and a few men. There are several different areas where breast cancer can begin. First, it usually happens in the milk ducts of the breast. It can also start in the glands that create breast milk. Finally, a minuscule amount of breast cancer cases begins in the actual tissue of the breast. This disease is known as lymphoma, and it’s not thought of as cancer.
What are the most common signs of breast cancer?
- Rough skin
- A subcutaneous lump (may need a mammogram to detect it)
- A new vein or thicker vein
- A bump on the surface of your breast
- Skin sores
- A thickened part of the breast that feels different than the rest of your breast
- Fluid coming from your nipple
- Dimples in your skin
- Hot spots under the skin or redness
- A sunken nipple
- Your breasts taking on a new and abnormal shape
I noticed something different about my breasts? Should I get it checked out?
Yes absolutely. The symptoms of breast cancer are not the same for every woman. It is best to get your breasts checked out than to ignore it and wait till later. If you do not have a primary doctor or money to buy a breast exam, many places offer free breast screening. Type in the phrase “breast cancer screening near me” into Google to see what is near you.
How can I support those who have breast cancer?
If you have a beloved who has breast cancer, then you must help them through this difficult time. Many breast cancer patients resist help because they don’t want to be a burden to their loved ones. But now is the time to drop what you're doing and be there when they need help.
Here are several ways you can help someone who has breast cancer:
- Stay with them during their chemotherapy treatments.
- Help them do their errands and chores when they are too tired.
- Have bland meals premade for them, since chemo makes people nauseous
- Don’t tell them about a new revolutionary diet of just celery that people somewhere in the world are using to cure their cancer.
- DON’T talk about essential oils. DONT. Unless the oils are actually for making their room smell nice
- Don’t take their mood swings and personality changes to the heart.
- Help them maintain their same life as much as possible.
- Let them complain and bitch about their cancer.
- Help them remember what the medical workers say and write down as much as possible.
Also, one of the best things you can do for your loved one who is going through a terrible time is to try to make every day be a little special. Maybe watch their favorite movie, help them out with their chores while putting on their favorite music. Just try your best to take away the bleakness of every day. Your loved ones will be exhausted physically and mentally after every chemo session and whenever they began to think about the future. It may be hard for you as well to hear about your friend thinking about death and what they should do if they were to die. But a lot of cancer patients come face-to-face with death and don’t need someone to listen to them.
Conclusion
If you ever suspect that you have breast cancer, it is in your best interest to immediately go to your doctor and have it checked out. Cancer is not a disease to be spelled and ignored. Nowadays, there are many different types of treatment for breast cancer, and the 5-year success rate for breast cancer survival is 91%. The sooner you detect cancer of the breast, the more likely you are to be close to that 91% survival rate. If you’re loved one has it, you can make their life a bit easier by becoming their support system. A support system helps patients feel better about their situation and not feel as dire. Ultimately, be there when they need you.