THINK PINK!

Amidst all of the beautiful colors of fall please take a moment to reflect on why there are so many people wearing “pink” this month.  October is recognized nationally as Breast Cancer Awareness Month and pink has been designated as the color to represent all men and women affected by breast cancer.  Maybe you have a family member or a close friend that has been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Maybe it is you or your spouse or a neighbor or co-worker.  The truth of the matter is that almost everyone’s life has been touched by breast cancer in some way.    

Aside from cancers of the skin, breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in American women of all races and ethnicities.  Men can also get breast cancer, but this is less common.  The earliest sign of breast cancer is often a change in the breast, found on a mammogram, before it can be felt by the women herself or a health care professional during a regular exam.  Less common symptoms can include changes to the breast such as thickening, swelling, tenderness, skin irritation, redness, scaliness or nipple changes.  

Being female is one of the biggest factors for developing breast cancer.  Age is also an important risk factor for breast cancer.  Since you have no control over your gender or your age, getting an annual mammogram if you are 40 years old or older is one of the best ways to protect your health.  Mammograms can detect breast cancer at a very early stage, when treatment is more effective and a cure is more likely.  Other things you can do to help decrease your risk for breast cancer include cutting down on fat in your diet, cutting down or eliminating alcohol, eating lots of fruits and vegetables, eating a diet high in fiber, getting regular physical activity, and controlling your weight.

If you need assistance paying for your annual female exam, the Every Woman Matters (EWM) Program is available.  Every Woman Matters is a program for women between the ages of 40 and 64 who meet income eligibility guidelines.  For more information regarding this program you can call Val Tvrdy, RN, at the Four Corners Health Department. 

Toll-free:  1-877-337-3573, or locally 402-362-2621. 

For any questions regarding breast cancer or for more information:  questions@fourcorners.ne.gov.