October: Breast Cancer Awareness Month


October may harbor one of the scariest holidays of the year, but it also is the month that reminds us of something much scarier. Did you know that 1 in 8 women born today in the U.S. will get breast cancer at some point[1]? The good news is that that most women can survive breast cancer if it is found and treated early. October, otherwise known as, National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, is a great chance to raise awareness about the importance of early detection. Keep reading below to learn how you can stay safe and how you can help others do the same!

October might be National Breast Cancer Awareness month, but if you’re an aging senior who is currently living independently, every month is personal protection awareness month. Without the proper at-home safety, facing a life threatening emergency solo could be devastating. However, early detection in a lack in proper personal protection can lead you to find a solution, like, Life Alert Protection. While wearing their lightweight, waterproof emergency pendant, you can summon an emergency medical help fast with just one touch of a button. No matter if you encounter a home invasion, a home fire or even a serious fall, Life Alert’s dispatch team can send you the proper authorities fast, 24/7. Awareness months may come and awareness months may go, but awareness of your safety will always be the top priority of Life Alert all year round!

Occupational Health and Safety[2] wants to make sure that you’re informed with the right tips for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Read them below and spread the word; awareness is key for prevention!

Avoid becoming overweight. Obesity raises the risk of breast cancer after menopause, the time of life when breast cancer most often occurs. Avoid gaining weight over time, and try to maintain a body-mass index under 25 (calculators can be found online).

Eat healthy to avoid tipping the scale. Embrace a diet high in vegetables and fruit and low in sugared drinks, refined carbohydrates and fatty foods. Eat lean protein such as fish or chicken breast and eat red meat in moderation, if at all. Eat whole grains. Choose vegetable oils over animal fats.

Keep physically active. Research suggests that increased physical activity, even when begun later in life, reduces overall breast-cancer risk by about 10 percent to 30 percent. All it takes is moderate exercise like a 30-minute walk five days a week to get this protective effect.

Drink little or no alcohol. Alcohol use is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer. Women should limit intake to no more than one drink per day, regardless of the type of alcohol.

Avoid hormone replacement therapy. Menopausal hormone therapy increases risk for breast cancer. If you must take hormones to manage menopausal symptoms, avoid those that contain progesterone and limit their use to less than three years. "Bioidentical hormones" and hormonal creams and gels are no safer than prescription hormones and should also be avoided.

Consider taking an estrogen-blocking drug. Women with a family history of breast cancer or who are over age 60 should talk to their doctor about the pros and cons of estrogen-blocking drugs such as tamoxifen and raloxifene.

Don't smoke. Research suggests that long-term smoking is associated with increased risk of breast cancer in some women. Need help quitting? Consider participating in WebQuit, the Hutchinson Center's online smoking-cessation study.

Breast-feed your babies for as long as possible. Women who breast-feed their babies for at least a year in total have a reduced risk of developing breast cancer later.

Participate in a research study. The Hutchinson Center is home to several studies that are looking at ways to reduce the risk for breast cancer. Check their website periodically for studies that might be appropriate for you. Just go to www.fhcrc.org and click on "How You Can Help."

Get fit and support breast cancer research at the same time. Regular physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer. Ascend some of the world's most breathtaking peaks while raising vital funds for and awareness of breast cancer research by participating in the Hutchinson Center's annual Climb to Fight Breast Cancer. For more information, visit www.fhcrc.org/climb.

Now that you are armed with tips to help you prevent getting breast cancer, it is time to spread the word. Make a difference by sharing this information with friends, family and even your community this October. In some cases, yes, ignorance is bliss, but in the case of breast cancer and even your everyday personal protection, that is not true. If you are currently living solo with no form of at-home safety, you’re ignorance could be putting you in grave danger. Should you encounter a life threatening emergency, what would you do? With Life Alert, you would know that you can summon an emergency medical response fast with just one touch of a button. No matter what danger you may face, Life Alert’s dispatch team is available 24/7 to send you the proper authorities fast. Get Life Alert today and reward your awareness! For a free Life Alert brochure call 1-800-513-2934.

Works Cited:
1.       “National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. < https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/OctoberToolkit.aspx>.
2.       “10 Prevention Tips for National Breast Cancer Awareness Month.” Occupational Health and Safety. 5 October 2010. <https://ohsonline.com/articles/2010/10/05/10-prevention-tips-for-national-breast-cancer-awareness-month.aspx?admgarea=magazine&m=1 >.