When you hear THINK PINK, what crosses your mind? Are you reminded that approximately 1 in every 9 Canadian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year? Are you reminded of loved ones, friends, family members, or co-workers who are enduring the battle right now?
When I hear THINK PINK, I am reminded of my mother and my aunt who both passed away after losing their battles with breast cancer. I’m reminded of the emotional devastation they endured while trying to cope with the news of their diagnosis. I’m reminded of the strength they showed as they tried to hide their fears from their children and family members. I’m reminded of the physical struggles they faced during treatments, the sickness that came with chemo, the countless doctors’ appointments, the side effects, the financial hardships that came with not being able to work. I’m reminded of why I chose to change my life, to make healthier choices, to become more educated about this disease and the process and now I’m giving back.
The pink ribbon is used to symbolize hope and strength in the fight against breast cancer. It’s a statement to the world that you care about those who have been or will be diagnosed with breast cancer. In October we are to remember those we have lost, those who are currently fighting and those we can help to never experience the dread and fear of being diagnosed with breast cancer. The Canadian Society for the Control of Cancer was initially formed in 1937 in the province of Saskatchewan for the purpose of educating the Canadian public about symptoms and causes of cancer. At that time, doctors had feared that by the time their patients came in to see them and test were concluded, their disease had progressed passed the point where the body could effectively fight back. Mortality rates were approximately 75%. Offices eventually opened across Canada and their name changed to The Canadian Cancer Society.
In 1986 The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation was formed and in 1990 the pink ribbon campaign became a nationwide symbol for the early detection and prevention of breast cancer. With two administrative bodies in place dedicated to the fight against cancer; and in an effort to operate more efficiently, The Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) and the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF) joined forces in 2017. The Canadian Cancer Society continues to strive to be a world renowned force in the fight against breast cancer and although the survival rates for breast cancer haven’t quite reached 90% yet, there’s hope! They continue to partner with researchers to turn cancer into a manageable disease, making cancer something you can live with, not an automatic death sentence.
Approximately 26, 000 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, and as we now know, women are not the only victims of this disease. According to the CCS, every year approximately 220 men will be diagnosed with this disease in Canada. According to the stats about 60% of Canadians diagnosed with cancer will survive at least 5 years after their diagnosis compared to that of the 1940’s. For testicular and thyroid cancers, that rate of survival has now reached 90%, so although progress is obvious, I think we can all safely agree more needs to be done in the early detection of breast cancer. Remember, no one fights alone. Breast cancer doesn’t just affect the patient; it affects entire families, friends, co-workers and loved ones. Treatments for breast cancer are not only physically debilitating but it wreaks a toll on people’s emotional, mental and sometimes financial wellbeing. Although breast cancer is not a preventable disease, there are steps that can be taken for early detection, reducing the chances of the cancer spreading, which in turn may save a life.
As stated previously, the struggle of dealing with a diagnosis of cancer was very real for me and I quickly realized, due to my family history (genes) I was more likely than not to have to fight this disease again, maybe personally. I needed to educate myself and try with everything I had in me to prevent any illness I could. The first thing I acknowledged was my lack of knowledge. I am no expert in this field and I do not purport to be, therefore I will be posting links at the bottom of this blog that will take you to well established sites on the education, early detection and treatments of breast cancer. I am not getting paid to do this and I am not an affiliate in any way. It’s just something that I feel you need to do. Educate yourself. A portion of my educational process was speaking with my family doctor and all the doctors that were involved in my mother’s care to get further insights into actions I could take. The tips they provided were exactly what I had heard most of my life, but things which I didn’t practice 100% of the time. It boils down to one simple sentence.
Choose to live a healthier lifestyle and get regular check-ups.
Choosing to live a healthier lifestyle will not automatically negate your chances of ever being diagnosed with breast cancer but it does drastically reduce your risk.
The first area I looked at was my intake. Am I eating right? Am I drinking right? Am I limiting my intake of alcohols and processed sugars? Some alcohols and sugars can actually increase the chances of breast cancer not only from forming, but also from aggressively spreading. I wasn’t a heavy drinker in the first place but I was a soda-holic. I put down the soda can and switched to water. Yes it’s filtered (I get lip because my water is so called “bougie”... AND!?) but you don’t have to copy me in this aspect.
When I thought about what I was eating, I added more vegetables and whole grain foods to my meals. I no longer eat white bread and at least one half of my plate is covered in fruits and veggies. I am still careful not to have canned fruits or veggies as these foods are typically highly processed or exposed to harmful pesticides and preservatives. I don’t smoke so that intake was never an issue for me. If it is for you, I would just ask that you to reconsider. Someone loves you more than you know and would never want to see you have to go through the perils of cancer.
Body weight. Look, we all love some home cooked food! I’ve been thick most of my life but I stayed active. I was in the gym 3 – 4 times a week. Sometimes 7 days a week twice a day (I’m not even lying to you. That was tough!) I did this to increase my cardio vascular strength, to improve my endurance, to increase my strength, to minimize my chances of getting high blood pressure and yes to decrease my chances of getting breast cancer. To this I can say, I can run for kilometers without getting winded, I won’t brag about what I can dead life or squat, my blood pressure is normal and if those are all indications that I’m on the right track than I’m satisfied to keep going. Maintaining a healthy body weight isn’t only about exercise and moving. Make sure to keep your intake in mind and drink lots of cleansing water. The first is required in order to obtain the second.
Sun exposure,… Personally, this was a task for me. I’m a tropical girl and love the beach. It’s often a misconception that black skin can’t burn. Wake up! We burn, we freckle, we get sun spots and we get moles. If you’re not protecting your skin when outside gardening, playing beach volley ball, or watching the local track meet, you are doing yourself a disservice. Protection in this instance also includes the chemicals you put on your skin to protect it (wink wink). Make sure you always understand the ingredients list on any products you put on your skin. Your skin will absorb harsh and dangerous chemicals as quickly as it will absorb safe, natural and beneficial ingredients.
Next, consider getting a periodic health visit. I get mine annually and any time I feel something is just a bit off, I head in to see my doctor. As I said, because of my family history, which I now understand and feel it’s imperative that others understand theirs too, I am more cautious when I exhibit certain symptoms. It’s important to get your physical, get screened if needed and get vaccinated if it comes to that. Between doctors’ visits, please practice self-breast examinations as I do.
The Canadian Cancer society has a wealth of information on their pages. Some topics I have briefly touched upon here in this blog. But if you would like to do further reading and I really hope you do, please visit their site at http://www.cancer.ca/en/?region=ab
I would also recommend reading https://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam for the proper techniques of how to do a self-breast examination.
If you wish to do more and make a difference for those who are fighting the fight or for future research and funding for cancer research projects, please consider making a direct donation to The Canadian Cancer Society at this link https://www.cancer.ca/en/donate/?region=on&s_src=alwaysonsearch2019&s_subsrc=sep-google-nw_search&utm_source=sep-google-nw&utm_campaign=alwaysonsearch2019&utm_content=cancerdonations&utm_term=v2
This year, Traces of Rose has prepared an all natural lemon and rose soap, with a matching lotion and a beautiful glass beaded Pink Ribbon bracelet all packaged in a pink pouch. These will only be available for the month of October in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. To purchase this set where proceeds will be donated directly to The Canadian Cancer Society, please visit https://www.tracesofrose.com/promotions
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