As you may have already known, October is breast cancer awareness month. Breast cancer affects millions of women every year, and as many as 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with the disease in their lifetimes. Its effects are far reaching and is the second most prevalent cancer among American women.
At BOXFOX our team has personal experience with how cancer can impact not only the lives of those diagnosed, but families and friends as well. We have put together a list of ways to help bring awareness to the disease, donate to cure-finding efforts, and ways you or someone you love can detect breast cancer early.
BOXFOX's 5 Tips for Breast Cancer Awareness
1. Donate to Reputable Charities //
The National Cancer Foundation, The Breast Cancer Research Foundation, The Rose, and Living Beyond Breast Cancer are all charities doing amazing work for women's health care and research funding. There's plenty more too! Find one you believe in, do your homework to check their record on Charity Navigator and get to donating!
2. Get Checked //
Especially if you are 40 or older, get a mammogram annually. Early breast cancer detection offers the best chance at beating the disease. It may be scary to be tested for any disease, but remember knowledge is literally power. Taking charge of your health is one of the best decisions you can make for yourself.
3. Know Your Risk //
Understanding your family's history with reproductive cancer is important and may offer insight on the likelihood you or a family member may develop the disease. Assess Your Risk offers a free online calculator for this, and it is always a good idea to check in with your doctor as well.
4. Live a Healthy Lifestyle //
Couch potatoes, we feel you, but understand diet and exercise dramatically improve your chances of not developing cancer. A healthy lifestyle doesn't always have to be about looking good, getting healthy for the sake of your relationships is a beautiful thing to embrace.
5. Be a Support System //
Having a loved one afflicted with a disease can be traumatic and an incredibly difficult thing to go through. Friendships and relationships are tested in difficult times, and it speaks volumes being the rock for a friend, family, member, or S.O. when they are in a time of great stress.
