Every October, millions of volunteers, cancer survivors, and their family and friends come together to increase awareness of breast cancer and help raise funds to research its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure. The movement seeks to encourage regular and routine screenings and bring hope to those currently battling the disease by sharing inspiring survivor stories. Early detection and treatment greatly improve outcomes for the more than 300,000 women and men who are diagnosed with breast cancer each year. That’s why education and awareness is so important.
Risk Factors and Prevention
Cancer occurs when a cell’s DNA gets damaged. What’s unknown is why and how that damage occurs. Understanding risk factors can be a big motivator to stay on the lookout for any changes in breast health and get checked regularly.
Some risks are genetic – such as age, race, family history and prior disease. Still, making healthy lifestyle choices could lower some of your risk factors:
• Be physically active and exercise at least 2-1/2 hours each week.
• Eat a diet high in fruits and vegetables.
• Avoid saturated fats like butter, baked goods, fatty meats and cheese.
• Control your weight.
• Limit alcohol consumption and don’t smoke.
How to Help
Amerant Bank would like to share these helpful tips on how you can get involved to support breast cancer awareness and help protect your health and the health of your loved ones.
1. Get a mammogram. Set an example for others while you take care of yourself, too. Schedule your screening and let your friends and family know you’re being proactive.
2. Wear pink. Symbolized by the iconic pink ribbon for more than 25 years, breast cancer awareness supporters pin a pink ribbon to their shirt or wear pink clothing, shoes, jewelry, nail polish and accessories throughout the month.
3. Volunteer. There are many non-profit organizations dedicated to breast cancer awareness that would appreciate your support. Find a local organization and volunteer to help plan fund raising events, distribute flyers or answer phones. If you can’t volunteer in person, look online for trusted organizations and share their posts on your social media. Visit charitynavigator.org to search for highly rated charities.
4. Participate in a run or a walk. There are hundreds of events in October and throughout the year, so you’re sure to find a one-mile walk, a 5K race or a 60-mile challenge that suits you whether you’re a walker, runner or fitness enthusiast who moves at your own pace.
5. Raise funds on your own. Once you find a breast cancer charity you feel comfortable supporting, host your own fundraiser. Wash cars, hold a bake sale, plan a yard sale or raffle off items donated by a local business. Social media sites also make it easy to hold a virtual fundraiser online.
Did you know?
• Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer for women.
• 1 in 8 women in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer during her lifetime.
• Every 2 minutes, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.
• This year, an estimated 2,700 men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with breast cancer.
• There are more than 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S..
Source: National Breast Cancer Foundation
