Breast Cancer Awareness

I remember slowly hearing the growth of the term, ” Beast Cancer”. For me, the knowledge of it came about some time in the 90’s. The thought that one could catch cancer in their breast was too much for my small mind to grasp then. As time went on and I grew older, I began to learn. I watched Breast Cancer go from a small thing that was just being mentioned, to a large epidemic that scientists are still trying to understand. There are no direct answers, only medical assumptions on what causes this illness. One thing that everyone can agree on is that it has grown at an alarming rate, claiming more and more women each year. It is said now that 1 in 8 women will catch breast cancer at some point in her life. Today, you can’t even say, “this is an older woman’s disease”. Breast Cancer is claiming victims younger and younger over the years. I personally feel that after you hit the age of 21, you should do self breast exams at the least, on a regular basis. Educate yourself on what exactly this is.

Major warning signs to look out for:

• Noticeable changes in the breast such as: Lumps on breast or armpit, abnormal swelling or redness on the breast, Flaky skin on or around the nipple,
• Pain in breast
• A discharge (sometimes mixed with blood) coming from the nipple that is not associated with pregnancy

More reading on Warning signs ————> HERE

Since more campaigns have been launched in hopes of creating more awareness about this disease, I began hearing the term, “antioxidant”. For the longest I was not informed on what exactly these were and why Antioxidants are an ideal  resource in combating your body against cancer. First I have to ask, What is a cancer?

Merriam-Webstar defines a cancer as:

can·cer/ˈkansər/

Noun:

1. The disease caused by an uncontrolled division of abnormal cells in a part of the body.
2. A malignant growth or tumor resulting from such a division of cells.

Antioxidants are key in preventing and fighting cancer. Somehow, these “good cells gone bad” end up in our bodies. I personally believe it’s from the food we eat and the air that we’re breathing (Keep in mind doctors and scientist still don’t know where cancer comes from). So much has changed with human evolution throughout time. Today, we’re hearing of more people loosing their lives to cancer. Rare cancers are becoming more common. Antioxidants are cellular and blood cleaners  and shields to our bodies cells. A diet enriched in antioxidants is one that is guarded with an army aided to protect and get rid of free radicals.  Vitamins C and E are both high in Antioxidants. Blueberries, chocolate, strawberries, as well as a vast selection of herbs that most of us have in our kitchen. Herbs such as: basil, garlic, oregano, ginger, turmeric, onion, and curry powder are in most of our supplies. Those spices can do more than just flavor your food. They can help you guard your life from all of these harmful unseen agents that we have flying through our air and possibly swimming through our water. YIKES!!!!!

This disease has given the color pink so much more meaning to me now. Pink no longer just means, “It’s a girl”. Pink means, “I am a supporter”, “I am a survivor”, “I will not be a victim to this”… The definition of pink is powerful. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I encourage all to inform themselves on this disease that is killing our women at an alarming rate. We must Armour ourselves with knowledge. Out of knowledge comes prevention.

1st picture source ———-> Madame Roxie