EARLY DETECTION SAVES LIVES DO YOU OR SOMEONE YOU LOVE NEED TO SCHEDULE A MAMMOGRAM?
October is Breast Cancer AwarenessMonth. Organized, in theNational Breast Cancer Foundation’s words, to “honor those at every step of the breast cancer journey,” the annual observance has also served to educate the public and raise funds for research. Learnmore about this deadly but survivable disease, and find out howyou can help. Breast cancer is extremely common. According to the NBCF, 1 in 8 American women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives. It is the second leading cause of death in women (behind heart disease). A breast cancer diagnosis is not a death sentence, however. Thanks to research and ongoing education, there are over 3.3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. today. What causes breast cancer? Breast cancer is caused by damage to cells’ DNA. It’smost common inwomen over the age of 40, though approximately 2,500 men in theU.S. are diagnosed each year as well. The risk of breast cancer increases with age. Most risk factors, such as age, gender, and family history, cannot be changed. However, research shows that exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy diet andweight, andminimizing alcohol consumption may reduce your chance of being diagnosedwith the disease. Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may also place you at higher risk.
Annual mammograms are free. Early detection is the biggest factor in breast cancer survival. There’s some debate among researchers and insurance companies over the “right” age to begin screening, but most sources agree that women should begin to get regularmammograms in their 40s (and earlier if they have a family history of the disease). The Affordable Care Act (ADA) requires all health insurance plans to cover the cost of annual mammograms for women age 40 and older, and there aremany organizations devoted to providing freemammograms to uninsured individuals. You canmake a difference. Visit Donate.nationalbreastcancer.org/ to learn how to help. TheNBCF funds cancer research, works to provide free mammograms to low-incomewomen, and serves as a resource for patients and their families. Many cities also have local organizations in need of donations and volunteers.
Contrary to popularmyths, breast cancer is not caused bymilk, microwave ovens, cellphones, caffeine, plastic cutlery, or deodorants.
When you were a kid, did your mom or dad ever say, “You can’t leave the table until you finish your dinner?” Parents mean well when they make you clean your plate; however, the impulse to consume every last bite follows a lot of people into adulthood and creates an emotional relationship between people and their food portions. People don’t just love food because of its nutrients, taste, and texture. Studies show that eating truly makes people happy. It releases endorphins — hormones that elicit positive feelings — into the bloodstream. This is why eating can be so addictive; it temporarily satisfies you when you are feeling a little crummy. When people are addicted to food, they exhibit a cyclical sort of behavior. In this cycle, the body stores calories it can’t burn off, which leads to weight gain. When a person gains weight, they might feel ashamed or frustrated. Then they eat more to feel better, which starts the cycle all over again. This cycle tends to worsen near the end of the year when so many of the holidays are centered around food staples like the famous Thanksgiving turkey and Christmas ham. While you should always indulge in the jubilation surrounding these holidays with your family, you don’t have to overeat to properly celebrate. While it may feel good in the moment, habitual overeating wreaks havoc on your body both emotionally and physically. For example, when you overeat, blood is redirected to aid digestion, which means that less blood is flowing to the brain and muscles. Additionally,
habitual overeating increases your risk of developing depression if you are using it as a stress-relief technique. It can also magnify any depression you may already experience. So during this upcoming holiday season, be sure to pay attention to the food you are putting into your body. This isn’t to say that you shouldn’t indulge in your grandma’s signature Thanksgiving cobbler or some mulled wine on Christmas Eve, but when it comes to developing good eating habits this year, the earlier you start working on them, the better!
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