Breast Cancer Awareness Month: The Basics

There is a 1 in 8 chance a woman will develop breast cancer sometime in her life.

We here at Ever & Ivy want to make sure all women are informed. It is our duty as women, sisters, and friends to look out for each other. Even though October is dedicated to breast cancer awareness, we should always be knowledgable of this disease and take the necessary precautions to avoid it.

We need to take the steps to better ensure our health so we can have a greater future. We have changed our logo to support breast cancer awareness for the month of October.

What is breast cancer?

I know that may sound like a silly question, but there are people out there that may not have had to deal with losing a family member, a friend, or endure the experience themselves.

For those of you that are not aware, breast cancer is when cells in the breast divide and grow without their normal control. Because tumors in the breast grow slowly, once you or a doctor discovers it, it could have been growing for years.

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Signs and symptoms

Knowing your body is important. The most common symptom is a new lump in the breast. If you notice a small or large mass, please see a doctor. Most lumps are not cancerous, but the only way to know for sure is if you see a healthcare provider. Like I said before, it can takes years for a tumor, benign or not, to grow, so here are some other symptoms to look out for: swelling of the breast, skin irritation, nipple pain, and redness.

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Prevention and early detection

There is no know way to prevent breast cancer, but there are ways you can lower your risk. Staying healthy and being active is a great place to start, that means limiting alcohol and sugars. If you are or about to be a mother, breastfeeding is another health benefit. To learn more about prevention and risks please visit American Cancer Society.

Performing self breast exams once a month can benefit you in the long run. This does not mean you should skip the doctor and your mammogram.

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Female breast cancer has dropped 39% from 1989 to 2015. Continue to get mammograms annually and perform self exams once a month.

There are more than 3.1 million breast cancer survivors in the United States. 

Helpful Links

To know more about the different types of breast cancer click here.

To know more about the different stages of breast cancer click here.

To hear real stories from real survivors click here.