A recent sisterly chat regarding self-awareness and acceptance lead to a revelation that one of the young women has “completely forsaken” wearing a bra. The little sisters all gasped! The old mother laughed and said she’d do the same thing if she could get away with it. The next item of discussion was whether or not anyone had noticed before the disclosure and whether or not the wearing of such an undergarment is even healthy for women (not to mention whether or not it’s comfortable). The health benefits for women related to wearing a bra have long been debated. At this point, it doesn’t seem there’s any real evidence that wearing or not wearing one is connected to breast tissue health, or to overall women’s health. October is “Breast Cancer Awareness” month, so let’s take a look at some things that ARE connected to one of the most often diagnosed cancers (in women) in the United States. Women and men both need to be aware of possible signs something needs to be addressed. Changes in the nipple such as newly inverting nipples, lump(s) or thickening in breast tissue (or in the armpit) that feels different from the surrounding tissue, changes in the size, shape or appearance of the breast or to the skin covering the breasts (for instance, dimpling in the skin) are all possible red flags. Although lifestyle choices increase breast cancer risks, some of us wind up with breast cancer, even when risk-increasing lifestyle and environmental factors aren’t or weren’t present. We know a small percentage of us have inherited an increased probability for developing breast cancer from our ancestors who passed mutated genes to us through generations. Being informed, aware and vigilant may be the best we can do. Considering the risks, and that there’s nothing we know of that will prevent it, keeping a watchful eye is imperative. Here are some of the risk factors: being a woman (oopsie, what was I thinking?), increasing age, personal or family history of breast cancer, exposure to radiation, obesity, beginning of menses prior to age 12, passing through menopause at an ‘older’ age, having a first child after the age of 30, having never been pregnant, post-menopausal hormone therapy to treat symptoms of menopause, and drinking alcohol. Very simply; the only things we can do to decrease breast cancer risks are these: 1) Maintain a healthy weight through diet and exercise. 2) Limit or omit alcohol consumption, and 3) If you’re post-menopausal, use the lowest possible dose of hormone therapy, or discontinue it. Be self-aware. Know your body. Notice how it’s changing. Self-examine monthly (without your bra 😊). Keep a watchful eye. Be well. (visit breastcancer.org for more information.)

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Too Soon Old. Too Late Smart

Let me share some advice given by two men; one young and one old: A young man asked one of my daughters, “How do you know when you’re successful?” She replied, “That depends on what your idea of success is.” He said, “Wrong answer.” He held that success is when you achieve your financial goals and have everything you could ever want that money can buy. He said, “Get a good job, save your money and get rich; that is success.” This young man is well loved and respected. He has a young wife and two children. He seems happy. An old man shared with me something he learned as a youth; “Too soon old. Too late smart.” During our visit, he shared stories from ‘back when.’ Reminiscing, he mentioned that he had turned down business and employment opportunities due to family priorities, more than once. He said he wanted to support his family, but wasn’t willing to leave them to do it. He’d seen what often happens when too much time is spent away from each other, and he didn’t want to risk that wit...
Read more

Sibling Death

There was tenderness in his words; “Sister, I’m here.” Then, touching her cheek; “OK, now. I’m here, Sister.” He carefully brushed the hair from her forehead with calloused fingers. That tough old farmer; soft as he communed with her for the last time. We’d come to say a final ‘good-bye’ to the only sister of six Blackburn brothers; Joyce. It’s really painful when your sister dies… or your brother. Of all human bonds, the sibling relationship is the only one expected to last a lifetime. Traditionally, we expect the day will come when parents leave this world, and most often, we live many years beyond our parents. We live decades before meeting and marrying the one with whom we hope to spend ‘the rest’ of our lives. We live years before bringing children into the world (and expect to outlive our children…) Siblings, though, are those we’ve known our entire lives (or close to it), and with whom we feel a sense of parallelism in life. Sibling relationships represent our past, present and ...
Read more

Little Boys and Swinging Ropes

It’s hard to catch your breath after having the wind knocked out of you, as my boy experienced recently when one of his favorite swinging ropes broke. It hurt, but could’ve been much worse. He’d been warned it was a matter of time, and though he learned a valuable lesson, he’s still swinging from other strategically placed ropes around the farm. In a way, I feel the wind has been knocked out of me, too, and catching my breath after surgery has been harder than I expected. I decided; because it has been almost a week since the procedure to fuse three vertebrae in my neck (etc.), and since I’m strong and determined, I was going to get up with the family and help them get off to school (instead of laying in bed while Mr. Blackburn took care of business, like he’s been doing with faithful diligence through all of this). In the process of my attempt to ready a simply breakfast, however, I made a terrible mess in the kitchen and ended up in tears, feeling very sorry for myself. I realized ju...
Read more