Six years ago, on the 28 March 2008, my beautiful mother passed away after a 10-year battle with breast cancer. Other than my grandmother’s sister, we had no history of breast cancer in our family. When I used to flip through magazines and see articles about the disease, I never read them, nor did I give breast cancer any thought – after all, it wouldn’t happen to me, or my family….
That all changed when my mother was diagnosed with stage 3-breast cancer at 49 years old. Until the day she was diagnosed, she’d NEVER been for a mammogram. Unfortunately my mom just wasn’t educated about the disease. If she had been, she’d more than likely still be here today.
My mom’s battle with breast cancer was a hard one. She was diagnosed and immediately had to have a double mastectomy, followed by chemotherapy and radiation. She was in remission for a while, but then, as often happens with late stage breast cancer, hers metastasized and spread to her brain. Many surgeries followed to remove the tumors, but finally, when her oncologists discovered a third tumor, she decided to let nature take its course.
Given my experience with the disease, I’m passionate about spreading the word about early detection. The thing about breast cancer is that if you find it early enough, there’s a 98% chance that you’ll survive.
It’s imperative to familiarize yourself with your breasts and learn how to perform a monthly breast self-exam – SEE HOW HERE. If you’re over the age of 40, or fall into a high risk group (a mother, grandmother or sister who had breast cancer) you should be having a yearly mammogram.
Symptoms to be on the lookout for:
- Nipple tenderness or a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area
- A change in the skin texture or an enlargement of pores in the skin of the breast (some describe this as similar to an orange peel’s texture)
- A lump in the breast (It’s important to remember that not all lumps are cancerous. However, a healthcare professional should check out all lumps)
- Any unexplained change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling anywhere on the breast
- Unexplained swelling of the breast (especially if on one side only)
- Unexplained shrinkage of the breast (especially if on one side only)
- Recent asymmetry of the breasts (Although it is common for women to have one breast that is slightly larger than the other, if the onset of asymmetry is recent, it should be checked.)
- Nipple that is turned slightly inward or inverted
- Skin of the breast, areola, or nipple that becomes scaly, red, or swollen or may have ridges or pitting resembling the skin of an orange
- Nipple discharge, especially if it’s bloody.
It’s always so heartwarming for me to see just how many big beauty brands get involved in the breast cancer awareness drive come October. For the month of October, Clinique will donate R40 from every purchase of their Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion + and Estee Lauder will donate R10 from every bottle sold of their Advanced Night Repair. The monies will go to the charity Look Good Feel Better.
Avon Justine will once again be doing their iThemba Crusade of Hope walkathon to raise money and awareness for their NGO partners. The walk takes place on Sunday 26 October in Johannesburg. Entries for the walkathon close on 12 October. For more information go to: www.ithembawalkathon.co.za
Africology, one of my favourite South African brands, will be donating R10.00 from every purchase of their Antioxidant Serum and Mask for the month of October to the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation. Because antioxidants mop up free radicals (those nasty unstable molecules that cause cancer), it’s essential to protect our skin with them. Antioxidants are found in a variety of fruit, vegetable and grains. For more information on how they help prevent cancer, click here.
There are so many other brilliant initiatives this month that raise money and educate on breast cancer awareness – so keep your eyes peeled and offer them some support.
GIVEAWAY
Africology very kindly offered to give one lucky reader a lovely pamper pack that contains the iconic Antioxidant serum (R500) and mask (R375). To enter, leave a comment below this post telling me how breast cancer has touched your life. Please be sure to include your email address (only I can see it) so I can get hold of you, should you be the winner. I’ll choose my favourite comment and announce the winners name on Friday 31 October.
