You will find various jewelry, home decor, and other items at Good & Perfect Gifts that feature the pink ribbon symbol for Breast Cancer Awareness, but knowing a few facts about it is just as important as showing your support by wearing or displaying items with this symbol.
Breast Cancer Facts
The National Breast Cancer Foundation has a website dedicated to explaining facts, sharing information, and raising information about this disease. The following facts are from the information found on that page:
- Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, and the 2nd leading cause of cancer death in women.
- 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.
- Men can be diagnosed with breast cancer too. While it affects about 246,660 women in the U.S. each year, it only affects about 440 men yearly.
- On a positive note, to date there are over 2.8 million survivors of breast cancer alive in the United States. It can be beat! Since about 1990, the death rates from this particular cancer have been declining.
Risk Factors
Cancer is a result of a cell's DNA being damaged, but how that damage happens is still begin researched. There are both genetic and environmental factors that can contribute, but it is often difficult to pinpoint exactly which of those factors cause a particular person's cancer. 60-70% of the people that have breast cancer do not fit the risk factors below, and those that do may never get cancer.
Here are a few risk factors that are generally associated with a person's risk of a breast cancer diagnosis.
- GENETIC:
- Age can be a factor. Most diagnoses happen after the age of 55.
- A family history of breast cancer
- A personal history of past breast cancer
- Early menstruation, beginning before the age of 12, or late menopause beginning after the age of 55
- Having a child at an older age, or never having children
- Gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2
- Having dense breast tissue, which makes it harder to detect lumps
- ENVIRONMENTAL:
- Lack of physical activity
- Eating lots of foods that are high in saturated fats and a diet that is lacking fruits and vegetables
- Being overweight, especially after menopause
- Frequent alcohol consumption
- Radiation exposure, especially before the age of 30
- High levels of the hormone estrogen
Even though there are lots of rumors and theories floating around, the following things DO NOT raise your risk for breast cancer:
- Caffeine
- Deodorant
- Underwire bras
- Microwaves
- Cell Phones
- Contact with someone who has cancer
What You Can Do
Early detection is key to surviving breast cancer. Being aware of changes in your body as soon as they occur is important. Women should give themselves a breast self-exam at least once a month. That way you are familiar with how they normally feel and are more likely to notice a change.
See your regular family doctor for a yearly checkup. They will be able to answer questions about breast cancer and tell you at what age you should begin getting mammograms. Your personal health history will determine how early you begin.
New research is being done every day, and awareness and early detection are helping to lower the number of deaths from breast cancer every year. We care deeply for each of our customers at Good & Perfect Gifts, and we want you to take good care of your health so that we can enjoy your company for many years to come.
A popular destination gift shop near the
Lake of the Ozarks
1603 Business Hwy 54,
Eldon, Missouri 65026
573-392-7900
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