Fitting Breast Cancer Awareness Into Your Daily Routine
For professional women, life is full of responsibilities and concerns. Your head is likely filled with thoughts of your job, your family, and—if you have time—your social life. With all of this going on, you may feel as if you don’t have time to think about anything else, least of all your health, but it is incredibly important that you make time for your personal wellbeing. After all, breast cancer treatment is far more time-consuming than early detection measures, and cancer will permanently affect your ability to be the best wife, mother and friend that you can be.
October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and this disease, which affects nearly a quarter-million women every year, is one of the easier ones to detect. So stop thinking that you don’t have time for your health, and learn how to fit detection and education into your daily routine.
In the Shower
If you don’t have time for a regularly-scheduled mammogram—which is recommended once a year after the age of 40, or earlier than that if you have a family or personal history of breast cancer—then at least take the time to do a self-exam. This can be done in the shower, in front of a mirror, or while lying down. (Alternately, you can educate your partner on how to do it, and play a rousing game of Doctor!) If you feel a lump, then schedule an exam with your doctor right away for a mammogram.
On Your iPhone
Susan G. Komen Tidewater, who is dedicate to combatting breast cancer, has developed an iPhone app that helps you stay up-to-date about current events, while connecting you to others and providing support and resources. Up to “75% of the net income goes toward funding grants to local hospitals and community organizations that provide breast health health education and breast cancer screening, and treatment programs for medically underserved women”, and the “remaining net income supports the national Komen Grants Program, which funds groundbreaking breast cancer research, meritorious awards, and educational and scientific programs.” In other words, not only can you stay up to date with breast cancer-related issues, but you can help out several worthy causes while you’re at it.
On Your Computer
There’s more to staying healthy than just exams, however. It is also important that you educate yourself as much and as often as you can on this subject. Much of this can be done from the comfort of your home. In addition to self-education via Google and other search engines, and signing up for monthly newsletters and updates, you can also register for educational webinars that cover everything from nutrition and supplements to information on specific types of breast cancer.
In Your Spare Time
In addition to detection and education, it is important to find time for fundraising for breast cancer causes. This doesn’t have to mean writing a check or breaking out the plastic, though. Instead, why not participate in a breast cancer fundraising event? Susan G. Komen has the Race for the Cure, and the National Cancer Society has the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer, both of which are walks that promote awareness while raising much-needed funds for breast cancer research and treatment.
As you can see, there are many ways in which you can find time to detect and combat breast cancer, without having to sacrifice time for your family, career, and social life. With all of these options to choose from, there’s no longer an excuse to not find time for your health. You’re worth it!
