Iyamah's Self -Wellness Friday

Hello, world. October is breast cancer month, and I would like to write a few words about the disease and its awareness. I have only been writing my blogs for one year now, and last year, I wrote my first self wellness on this topic.

Breast cancer is when cells in the breast develop into a tumor. Both women and men can get this, but it is known to produce the greatest in women. A tumor is when bad tissue cells grow in the body and then begin to spread. There is the benign that is not cancer, and then there is the malignant, which forms into cancer.

I am learning about breast cancer little by little, so I may not be on point with every detail just yet, but as I progress in this area, I will learn to give more detailed descriptions.

As a woman, I learned at an early age how to check for lumps in my breast. I believe that I was taught around the time when my first menstrual cycle began. I remember checking once a month, preferably while in the shower or bath.

Self-examination can start by first knowing your breast. You should be paying close attention to how your breasts look and how they feel daily. You should be checking for any changes, such as lumps or significant size differences. It would help if you were looking for anything that doesn’t look normal as usual.

I remember learning by placing two or three fingers on my breast and gently pressing down. I would be pushing around both breasts and feeling for lumps, and doctors told me to do this with my arms up in the air. I remember starting to do this as a young teenage girl.

Okay, so I’ve been researching how a person can get breast cancer, and I have read that there are many ways of getting this disease. One way of getting this disease that astonished me the most was by sleeping in underwire bras.

I’ve also learned that this can be genetic. You can get breast cancer when there are abnormal growth hormones in your milk gland. Some cancer cells are inherited when you are born, and DNA mutations cancer cells grow during a woman’s lifetime and according to her lifestyle.

So what you eat plays a significant factor in this, and also, there are cancer-causing chemicals all around us. I also read that radiation causes cancer. I’m learning as I am going. I’m scratching my head as to what radiation can cause cancer? I am going to find out everything.

I have been studying videos on the beginning of cancer and medicine that was used to treat it. All of this is very interesting to me.

Not too long ago, I graduated from School as a Pharmacy Technician, and I learned plenty. I did not realize that I would be using the information that I gained for so many other beneficial things in my life besides working as a technician.

One of the things that I learned that has stuck to me, like glue, is the active ingredient in most deodorants: Aluminum zirconium trichlorohydrex. Although this ingredient has been controversial as to whether it has any tribulations to causing breast cancer, I find it interesting that it is placed close to your breast and used daily for years. Besides this ingredient, there are other warnings and components on the back that are alarming to me.

I am learning more to bring continued attention in the hope of prevention and support to anyone dealing with this. Mammography services are becoming more available to women these days, and mobile trucks are available for screening to those who may have problems getting to appointments or have payment issues.

I am very proud of all the people who have conquered this. Being a fighter is not always easy but being a fighter is what makes you stronger. Death among women with breast cancer is declining. And awareness is increasing. Also, new technology and strategies are out there for prevention.

Lastly, remember to eat well, exercise daily, and be happy. Bad things can happen, but if you are physically and mentally strong, there is a greater chance for you to survive anything. Salute to all the survivors and bless all who have ever had to experience this awful disease in one way or the other. Positive vibes, good health, and love are going out to you all.

I got my information from the CDC, the American Cancer Society, and Answer.com.