Breast Health 101: What You DO Need To Know

We live in a hyper breast cancer aware world where you might be bombarded with information AND misinformation about breast health and cancer. (No, underwire bras do not cause breast cancer!) Although you might be “aware” of the disease and likely know someone personally affected, you may not know many of the facts for themselves and what you can do to stay on top of your breast health.

Statistically, the majority of people diagnosed with breast cancer have random mutations arising during DNA replication in normal, noncancerous stem cells.  A third of the variation in cancer risk among tissues is attributable to environmental factors or inherited predispositions and that is why at Rethink Breast Cancer we encourage all young people to be breast aware and risk savvy.

So, what does that mean…?

It’s never too early to be thinking about your breast health and taking steps to improve your overall heath, which decreases your risk of many cancers.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle and being breast aware can help you understand your personal risk and empower you to take charge of your personal health.

While the Internet, Dr. Google and social media era have been amazing for expanding the breast cancer conversation, it’s important that you know that facts….

Know your body.

Despite what you may have heard, systematically checking your breasts for lumps isn’t the way to go. In fact, it can actually lead to unnecessary health care visits and an increased number of benign (non-cancerous!) results. It’s better to be breast aware. This simply means knowing your body so that you notice the changes that don’t feel right. No schedule, no pressure… just awareness. Find out more about how to become more breast aware here…  

Do your research.

By dialling in to #8008135 hotline, you’ve already taken a step in the right direction. But, another important area to research is you. As a teen, your risk for breast cancer is extremely low. However, levels of risk can vary from person to person. The best way to conquer breast cancer fear is to get educated. Knowing your family history is the first step in making informed, proactive decisions about your best breast health. When in doubt, ask a family member or your doctor! Find out more about what being high risk means here…  

Speak up.

Take charge of your breast health. It’s unfortunate that young women’s concerns about their breast health can be brushed aside. But just because breast cancer is rare for us, doesn’t mean it’s impossible. When something doesn’t feel right, ask the right questions and speak to your doctor about it. You are your own best advocate. Find out more about practical ways to advocate for yourself here…  

Make healthy choices.

Believe it or not, some of your breast health is in your hands. Making healthy life choices like eating healthy, limiting alcohol intake (yes, you read right), exercising regularly, and maintaining a healthy body weight are proven factors in reducing your breast cancer risk throughout your lifetime. Find out more about healthy living and breast cancer here…  

Stay empowered.

At Rethink, we believe knowledge is power. #8008135 is part of that, but it doesn’t stop here. We must choose to be empowered – not afraid – to take charge of your breast health by staying educated on breast health and breast cancer. Download our Breast Health 101 HERE. Find out how you can join the Rethink movement and continue to spread facts (not fiction!) about breast cancer here…