Oct 1, 2020
It might seem like an embarrassing question to some, but October is the time when we can throw prudish manners out of the window and ask in all seriousness:
“How well do you know your breasts”?
This is breast cancer awareness month, a cause that is very close to my heart and as usual, I’ll be handing out my “Guide To Breast Self-Exam” cards that I pick up at my OBGYN visits.
Breast cancer is the second most prevalent cancer (after skin cancer) among women in the United States. Whilst it is easier to treat than other cancers, EARLY detection and treatment can improve the outcome. Nevertheless, check out these harrowing statistics:
- About 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 12%) will develop invasive breast cancer throughout her lifetime.
- In 2019, an estimated 268,600 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 62,930 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer.
- About 2,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2019. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 883.
The reality of the sheer number of people afflicted with this illness really hits home, doesn’t it? So, I hope that you take this as a reminder to get up close and personal with yourself. Get to know your breasts! Nobody is better equipped to recognize a change in your breasts than you are and it can only bring better health and better healthcare to you.
In case you didn’t know, I was certified as a Breast Cancer Pilates Instructor in 2004. Since then, I’ve developed a range of movement, fitness, and nutritional plans that support women in recovery from breast cancer. But you don’t need to have suffered it already. Many of these strategies can be implemented right now to improve your health and reduce the likelihood of developing breast cancer.
Today, I share fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle strategies that you can implement right now to help your body stay strong through breast cancer recovery or to help prevent it in the first place by reducing inflammation, boosting energy, and building your strength and well-being.
I hope that by the end of this episode you’ll be asking your friends how well they know their breasts and we’ll all be answering “better than yesterday”.
Links mentioned in the show:
- Pursue Your Spark on Instagram
- Pursue Your Spark on Facebook
- 4 Week Lean Out Program
- How I Became A Pilates Breast Cancer Coach
- National Cancer Institute
- Breastcancer.org
- Pink Ribbon Pilates Program
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