Breast Cancer Awareness

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October is Breast Cancer Awareness month.  Radiance Medical Aesthetics & Wellness is pleased to be a sponsor of “In The Pink of Health” that raises funds to reduce the incidence of breast and ovarian cancer and assist survivors in their journey.  Proceeds fund research, mammograms and programs for the uninsured or underinsured in Montgomery County.

Breast cancer awareness is more than wearing pink and having events.  It is our mission to educate and inspire!

One in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer and men are not immune.  One in 833 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer.  Here are some breast cancer facts:

• A woman’s risk of breast cancer nearly doubles if she has a first degree relative (mother, sister, daughter) who has been diagnosed with breast cancer
• 2 out of 3 invasive breast cancers occur in women over 55.  Young women can develop breast cancer
• Radiation to the face or chest before the age of 30 increases the risk of developing breast cancer
• White women are slightly more likely to develop breast cancer than African American, Hispanic, and Asian women. But African American women are more likely to develop more aggressive, more advanced-stage breast cancer
• Overweight and obese women have a higher risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer, especially after menopause
• Women who haven’t had a full-term pregnancy or have their first child after age thirty have a higher risk of breast cancer
• Breast feeding lowers the risk of breast cancer especially if a woman breastfeeds for longer than one year
• Women who start menstruating before the age of 12 or go through menopause after age 55 are at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Here are steps you can take to decrease the risk of developing breast cancer:

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise regularly
• Limit alcohol
• Eat nutritious food
• Never smoke or quit if you do smoke

Early detection is the key to early treatment and increases the risk of survival.  Monthly self breast exams and mammograms are key to early discovery.  Remember, breast cancer is not a death sentence.  Don’t be afraid to have that mammogram.  Talk to your healthcare provider.  Empower yourself with knowledge.

To your health and wellness,

Lauren Olson, PA-C

Founder and owner of Radiance Medical Aesthetics & Wellness

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