Breast Cancer Awareness Month ~ BOOB CHECK!!!

Many of us probably have either experienced breast cancer personally or know someone who has. It is very unfortunate, but cancer seems to be touching the lives of so many, regardless of age, race, or even gender.

My family and I are experiencing the effects of cancer as I write this post. Without oversharing, I will simply say that I thank God for every moment that I have with my mom.

Just to share a few facts, for those of you who don’t know:

Typically, breast cancer has no symptoms. So, if you think because you “feel” okay you are out of the woods, you are WRONG! Even if you have physical signs of breast cancer (a lump, sometimes under the arm lymph nodes which can be passed off as swelling), it is painless so therefore can still be overlooked. Although not common, there can be breast pain, heaviness, swelling, redness of the skin, or nipple abnormalities (discharge, retraction, or erosion). Ladies…BE SMART, get checked!!!

According to BreastCancer.org, about 1 in 8 U.S. women (about 13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2022, an estimated 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S., along with 51,400 new cases of non-invasive (in situ) breast cancer. To add, about 2,710 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in men in 2022. A man’s lifetime risk of breast cancer is about 1 in 833. Yes, men are at risk too!

Thus far, breast cancer has affected 3% of women under 40 with 2% of deaths; 20% of women between 40-49 with 9% of deaths; 28% of women ages 50-69 with 19% of deaths between ages 50-59 and 23% deaths between 60-69; 15% of women between 70-79 with 20% deaths; and 6% of women 80 and over with 27% deaths. Some of these stats may have changed since I last checked, but either way, this is huge ladies, especially for women between 40 and 79 years of age. Again…BE SMART, get checked!!!

For more information on breast cancer, its causes, how to get your boobs checked, treatment, etc., visit www.cancer.org.

Ladies (and guys), bottom line….if you have not gotten your boobs checked in some time, please do so immediately. Cancer is a monster that can take over one’s life in such a destructive way, and yes, can cause not only suffering but death! Don’t think that this cannot happen to you!

Queendom Rising....