Your Ultimate Guide to Breast Cancer Awareness Month
It’s October, which means it’s time to drag out the Halloween decorations, pick out the best pumpkins and start planning your costume. But, more importantly, it’s breast cancer awareness month. October is a time to pay special attention to this cancer and do everything we can to support those who are battling it. Here at The Edge, we stand with all those who have been affected by breast cancer, and we are committed to being proactive when supporting this cause. Without further ado, here is your ultimate guide to breast cancer awareness month.
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Learn:
What is breast cancer exactly?
It’s a type of cancer that can affect both women and men, though more commonly cis-women, and materializes as a tumor in the breast. These tumors can often be found as a tangible “lump” in the breast. Not all lumps are cancerous, but some can become cancerous if not treated. This cancer comes in different types depending on the location and the malignancy of the tumor. Click here for more information.
Who is at risk to develop breast cancer?
There are both genetic and environmental factors that can affect whether someone develops breast cancer. People born female are most likely to develop breast cancer, and the risk increases with age. Breast cancer is most often detected in those aged 55 and up. Many have heard of the BRCA gene. A mutation of the BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene can lead to abnormal cell growth, aka a tumor. This risk factor is genetic, and the identification of a mutated gene can only be identified through professional genetic screening. People with these gene mutations have a 7 in 10 chance of developing breast cancer, and this chance only increases if they have a history of breast cancer in their family. The gene mutation also increases the chance of developing ovarian cancer (or prostate cancer for those born male). Non-genetic factors that have been linked to an increased chance of developing breast cancer include drinking alcohol, being overweight or obese, lack of physical activity, not breastfeeding, certain birth control methods, hormone therapy after menopause and breast implants. To learn more about the risk of developing breast cancer, click here.
How can I reduce my chances of developing breast cancer?
There are ways to decrease the risk, which may be helpful to those with genetic factors that increase their chances of developing cancer. If you know that you have a family history of breast cancer, consider getting genetically screened to see if you have the mutated BRCA gene. There are pros and cons to getting the genetic screening, and it is entirely a personal decision. One of the pros to screening is finding out early if you are at risk and deciding if you want to take further measures such as frequent screenings, preventative surgery or medications. A change in lifestyle habits can also decrease the chance of developing cancer. For more information on reducing the risk, click here.
Get involved:
Donate to fundraisers
An amazing organization is breastcancer.org, which has supported 153 million patients so far. For every dollar donated, three people affected by breast cancer get the support they need. To donate, CLICK HERE!!
The Susan G. Komen fundraiser is especially unique because Bank of America has agreed to triple all donations made. For example, a $30 donation would become a $90 donation thanks to BOA.
Research! Both fundraisers mentioned above are wonderful places to donate, but if you google “breast cancer fundraiser,” you’ll find hundreds more!
Become a fundraiser
It’s super easy and extremely helpful to create your own fundraiser for the cause. The National Breast Cancer Foundation has a website that walks you through the fundraising process step by step and makes it so simple to set up. Check out the infographics on the site for even more info on how to do this!
Elon University’s Zeta Tau Alpha chapter has breast cancer awareness as their philanthropy. The chapter hosts fundraising events and opportunities throughout the year, so be sure to keep an eye out for those. Their “Think Pink” event will be this Wednesday, so be sure to get involved!
Show your support
Wear pink on October 22 to show your support and raise awareness. You can officially sign up and commit to “wear it pink” here!
Shop from places that spend their proceeds towards breast cancer research. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has a special “shop pink” section of their website, and money spent there will go towards continuing their research. They sell pink items ranging from fashion, beauty, sports, and more. They even carry some of our favorite brands (hello Estèe Lauder).
Be proactive:
Breast self-examination
Catching breast cancer early on is crucial to treating it effectively. An easy way to stay on top of things is to do a self-examination of your chest to check for lumps and abnormalities. Luckily, B&W writer Lydia has us covered in her article diving deep into how to perform a proper self-exam. Click here to read, or click here for another self-examination source!
Know your risk
Talk to your parents about your family history surrounding breast cancer. Evaluate how at-risk you are, and consider making the decision to do genetic screening.
Keep the conversation flowing
Breast cancer awareness month is designed to do just that- raise awareness. Talk about the risks of breast cancer with your friends and family, and encourage each other to donate to the cause and evaluate your own chances of developing it. Be the start of the conversation, not the end.
While we celebrate the spooky season, make sure to take the time to remember the other huge part of this month. We sincerely hope that you all will do your best to raise awareness and be active participants in supporting the cause. #Pinktober2021