Each October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a date in the calendar for survivors of the disease and a chance for breast cancer charities to raise awareness about the condition. It's a key time in women's health education to talk about early detection awareness and prevention strategies for breast cancer, especially as breast cancer now affects 1 in 3 women.
If you are a senior in Richmond, VA, take some time this October to discover how you can protect yourself from breast cancer. In this guide, we'll talk about prevention strategies together with how you can get involved in raising awareness during this health month for seniors.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month first originated as a campaign in the 1980s. It has grown since then to be a familiar and powerful movement, often with familiar and high-profile faces fronting the campaign.
October is significant for breast cancer in America and around the world, marking a date when communities come together to raise awareness about this condition. Awareness is crucial for breast cancer support, as it's a way to highlight how women can check for symptoms and why early detection is critical for treatment and survival rates.
For seniors, when cancer risks rise, awareness of symptoms and regular screenings is a crucial part of managing their health.
Age is one of the strongest contributory factors for many cancers, including breast cancer. For women, a diagnosis becomes more likely once you reach 60.
However, seniors also have other health challenges that emerge as they get older, which can make it harder to spot specific symptoms of breast cancer. Factors like fatigue, for example, are easy to overlook and brush off as a regular part of aging.
Breast cancer awareness is a reminder that we can all be empowered to take charge of our health and stay proactive. The first step is getting a regular screening for breast cancer.
Sadly, breast cancer continues to be one of the most common cancers in older adults, despite advances in screenings and awareness. However, there is good news.
Thanks to improved detection, medicine, and treatment, survival rates have improved over recent decades.
Recovering from any cancer treatment can be a challenge for most. For seniors, these challenges can feel magnified if they also face other health issues, such as mobility limitations.
That's why seniors should prioritise screening, even if it means booking mammograms when you have limited mobility or chronic health conditions. Identifying cancer in its early stages, before it has grown into a tumor, can often mean less invasive treatment.
If you are part of the senior community in Richmond, there are many ways you can support Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. Here are some ideas:
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a chance for a community to come together and remove the stigma of a cancer diagnosis. Whether you are a relative of a loved one with cancer, a senior at risk of cancer, or a breast cancer survivor, it's a time when everyone can do their part to raise awareness.
If you have participated in Breast Cancer Awareness Month before, you may have noticed the prevalence of the color pink in decor, clothing, and even pink ribbons. So why is this?
The pink tradition started back in the 1990s as a way for people to silently but powerfully show their support for the cause.
People wear pink to remember a loved one, to support a friend or family member going through cancer, or to honor themselves as a survivor or patient facing a breast cancer diagnosis. Pink helps spread the word and get more people involved in this great cause.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is dedicated to educating people about the disease and addressing their questions. So let's look at some of the most common questions for seniors and their families.
Currently, breast cancer diagnoses are the most common of all cancer diagnoses for women over the age of 60. Breast cancer can also impact younger women, but the risks increase with age.
Mammograms are scans that check the breast tissue for early signs of tumors. Doctors recommend that all women between 60 and 74 get regular mammograms, but always speak to your healthcare professional for specific recommendations, as individual factors like family history of the disease will impact screenings.
Common breast cancer signs include lumps in the breast tissue. However, signs of this cancer may not always show as a lump. It may consist of swelling, dimpling, nipple discharge, or an unusual change in the size or shape of the breast.
If you are interested in participating in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, consider starting with local organizations dedicated to raising awareness. If you are in a senior living community in Richmond, speak to the staff for recommendations.
You can also reach out to national organizations, such as the American Cancer Society, which may be able to advise on how you can start a fundraiser or awareness event in your local community.
If you reside in a senior living community in Richmond, VA, don't forget to take some time this October to support Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This month is also the ideal opportunity for you to discover more about our senior living community in Richmond and whether it's the perfect choice for you. Book a tour of the Virginian in Bon Air, Virginia, and discover how we make senior health central to our environment, from on-site classes and nutritious food to our comprehensive wellness program.