“Cut for the Cure“.
I had my hair cut today at A. Rossi Salon here in Boca, where ALL proceeds from the day were being donated to Susan G Komen Foundation in honor of Elite Salon Systems founder Linda Martens. What an amazing event all day long, professional hair stylists cut hair, receiving no pay, just passing on their time and energy to support this great cause. I salute you all!
Amazing, isn’t it, that there was a time when no one was willing to talk about Breast Cancer. Many young women don’t realize that it was not that long ago, just 20-30 years ago, that no one would have a conversation that included the word “breast”, let alone talk about an illness that concerned women’s breasts and impacted our lives so significantly. Did you know that an estimated 92,370 new cases of invasive breast cancer will occur among women in the United States during 2009?
Some women survivors I know are the 1st generation of women in their families to openly acknowledge the disease in their family history. Only at the point of diagnosis did these women discover that breast cancer was a common killer in their family in earlier generations. How sad is it that no one felt comfortable sharing that vital medical history information until it was too late. What we know today is that early detection is the key to ensuring long, productive lives for the survivors.
And though “we’ve come a long way baby”, why is it that I still meet women who won’t prioritize their own health? Why is it that we still put the needs of others far before our own, and some, we never seem to get to our needs on the “to do” list?
And sadly, there are more than emotional consequences for that habitual ignoring of warning signs.
So my request to all that read this today is to listen to your bodies when they tell you that something isn’t quite right. Please don’t disregard unusual symptoms or repetitive symptoms that don’t seem normal.
The Susan G. Komen Foundation lists warning signs here at http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/WarningSigns.html, and they include:
The most common symptoms of breast cancer are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge. These are listed below:
- Lump, hard knot or thickening
- Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
- Change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
- New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away
And you should already know that getting regular screening tests is the best way for women to lower their risk of dying from breast cancer. Screening tests can find breast cancer early when it’s most treatable. The standard screening tests used today” mammography (including digital mammography), MRI and clinical breast exam”are very effective in identifying areas of concern.
Make time to schedule these exams. My annual exam comes due November of each year, and I can tell you that today was my reminder to make my appointment NOW! not when I get around to it but today.
To all those courageous cancer surviving women out there who are fighting to make sure that no women go without an option for early detection, and that no women go without treatment and support, I applaud your strength and pledge my support.
And I promise not to let your voice go unheard, and to take action to avail myself of all the screening and preventative treatment options available to me today. And I promise to spread the word to all those who will listen.
Will you schedule your appointment this week? Is there anything more important than your health and your life? How will you take care of everyone else on your priority list if you are suffering from the debilitating condition of late-stage breast cancer? Give them your best today, and schedule your appointment for your annual exam and mammography.
And if you’ve had yours, but you know someone who hasn’t, encourage them to go today!
In the spirit of wisdom, wellness, and prosperity,
I wish you well-
Nanette