The pink month

I have been supportive of breast cancer awareness month-OCTOBER every year. But this year, i have taken the initiative to spread this awareness to people that are closest to me. I found flyers about self examination from MPH. I took a few many of it, thinking that i will then pass it on to my friends so that they can be aware and get themselves check. However, not many responded positively, they even refused to wear the pink ribbon thinking that it’s cliche and embarassing. Well, i would really like to know what’s so embarrasing about your body. I believe that it’s my body and if i want a healthy body, i need to take care of it and i need information about my body to do so.

I understand that some of them are just scared, scared of facing the fact that they may have it. Well, i think that they are just stupid for running away from the problem when they don’t even know whether they have it. Enough said, prevention is better than too late.

I wanted to support the cause too when i saw the exhibition at KLCC. Purchase RM80 and you get a lipstick, lipgloss and t-shirt (all in pink of course) from Estee Lauder and the best part is, all proceeds will go to the research for breast cancer.

“The Malaysian Health Ministry’s National Cancer Registry indicates that the incidence of breast cancer in 2003 was 46.2 for every 100,000 women – which is 1 IN EVERY 19 women is at risk of getting breast cancer in her lifetime.”

So,

please do get yourself checked whether it is self examination or clinical check up.

“Survey findings by the National Population and Family Development Board (LPPKN) for 2004 indicates only 53.2% of women in Malaysia ever having done a clinical breast examination.”

It shows how much in denial Malaysian women are, even so i would like to emphasize here before i forget that not only women, but men are also at risk of getting breast cancer.

Besides, the lifestyle that you are adopting at the moment, it is healthy enough? Research shows that a healthy lifestyle can also prevent you from getting cancer. “a poor diet, a sedentary lifestyle, alcohol, and smoking DO affect breast cancer risk, among numerous other health problems.”

However, the cause for breast cancer till today is still unknown. There are few factors that can increase a women’s risk include heredity, early puberty, late childbearing, obesity, and lifestyle factors such as heavy alcohol consumption and smoking.

“The biggest risk factor for breast cancer is age — just growing older. Most breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50, and women over 60 are at the highest risk. The risk for developing breast cancer increases if her mother, sister, daughter, or two or more other close relatives, such as cousins, have a history of breast cancer, especially at a young age. However, 85% of women who develop breast cancer have NO known family history of the disease.”

So, the factors may be a lot but it’s never too late to get yourself examine and making sure that you are healthy right?Start having a healthy diet, exercise and be happy with your life.

Thus, take the initiative, take that one small step in which you can practise straight at home- self examination, get the correct information from the correct sources and do get help or support if you need to. Face it, if you don’t have the strength always ask help from your loved ones.

For more information on Breast Cancer, I urge you to go over to http://www.breastcancer.org. The site has breaking news on the latest breast cancer research, information on symptoms, diagnosis and treatment options, support discussion boards, online conferences, and much more.

Thank you!