October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Supporting Those With Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is this October! From spreading awareness to campaigning and fundraising, there are many helpful ways to support and empower women with breast cancer.

BREAST CANCER STATS AND FACTS

As the most common cancer for American women, there is a 1 in 8 chance for women in the US to develop breast cancer. In many cases, with early detection, there is a 98% chance of surpassing the five-year survival rate, and there are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the US today. Regular mammograms and self-examinations are essential to monitoring breast health.

Whether you’re battling breast cancer or are at high risk for developing cancer, there are many ways to increase longevity and help prevent breast cancer. Here are some suggestions to integrate into your everyday lifestyle right now:

Eat a healthy fiber-rich diet with a variety of fruits and veggies
Stay active with regular exercise
Maintain a healthy weight
Limit alcohol to one drink a day
Limit postmenopausal hormone therapy
Don’t smoke
Get enough Vitamin D found in food or through vitamin supplementation
Avoid chemicals like parabens which can disrupt your endocrine system
Amp up on antioxidants such as those found in green tea, berries, and pomegranate
Try yoga, Pilates, or tai chi
Practice deep breathing and mindfulness for healing and relaxation
Detox from toxins, chemicals, heavy metals, and stress
Massage your breasts regularly with an organic plant-based carrier oil mixed with essential oils

Use positive affirmations to empower, uplift, motivate, and inspire you. Read this affirmation to yourself every day and internalize every word as you look in the mirror. You can also record it as an audio memo on your phone and play it back to yourself anytime.

“I am a strong, courageous, and independent woman of true worth, and I value who I uniquely am. Whatever the size or shape of my breasts, or if I’ve had to have them removed, I am beautiful inside and out. And, whether or not I have hair on my head, I’m authentically beautiful and one-of-a-kind. I don’t have to look like anyone else because I am happy and best at being uniquely me. I am always loved and am grateful for the life I’ve been given. I will not be afraid of breast cancer, of losing my breasts or hair, of pain, or of dying, and will live my life as the best version of me. Even if I have been diagnosed with breast cancer, I will do my best to survive it and thrive. I choose to be thankful for what I have. I choose to love myself and others. I choose to focus on living and being as happy and healthy as possible. I choose to make peace with myself, however I look or feel and whatever I do in life. I know I will be okay and choose to seize the day!”

Good news! There are bountiful benefits of gentle breast massage, including healing breast tissue, clearing toxins, increasing circulation and “qi” energy, and promoting lymphatic flow and drainage. You can easily DIY and embrace your senses with scent-ual aromas.

BEAUTIFUL BREASTS WOMEN’S MASSAGE OIL

INGREDIENTS: Carrier oils: Almond, olive, jojoba, primrose, and coconut oil

Essential oils: lavender, grapefruit, thyme, frankincense, cypress, geranium, clary sage, and wild orange, sweet marjoram, and/or ylang ylang.

INSTRUCTIONS: Pour carrier oil, along with two capsules of vitamin E oil (optional), followed by essential oil(s) into a plastic bottle. Dilute essential oil(s) of choice with 8-12 drops in 1-ounce carrier oil of choice. Secure lid and shake gently to blend.

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Susan B. B. Schabacker

Susan B. B. Schabacker is a proud writer, team member, and fan of Forsyth Magazines and writes multiple articles every month for Forsyth Woman and Forsyth Family. She loves writing and is also pleased and honored to write for National Geographic and National Geographic Kids. Susan is a co-author of a children’s book, Huckleberry Robin, based on a three-generation true family story and hopes to write more children’s books. Susan is also a local singer/songwriter/musician (and aspiring artist) working on recording her third album about COVID-19 (Coronavirus), called Beyond the Virus, that has become both a local and international collaboration. Currently, she lives in the Winston-Salem, Piedmont Triad area of NC, where she has resided for over 20 years. Susan graduated with a B.A. in Corporate Communications and a minor in dance from Elon University. She has had the opportunity to travel internationally to Budapest, Hungary for classical ballet, when she attended UNCSA (University of North Carolina School of the Arts); London, UK; and Beijing, China, where she studied abroad through Elon University. In Stockholm, Sweden, she had a marketing internship at Hachette-Filipacchi, publisher of Elle and other magazines. She also had another marketing internship in London with the Bramah Museum of Tea. Susan is the founder, owner, and master tea blender of a local tea business, Tea-lation! (@Tealation on FB + IN), which she has designed ads for in Forsyth Woman. She hopes to share her love for life + teas and encourages everyone to share, sip, and savor their cuppa happy! Susan looks forward to writing more articles and books and embarking on a long and successful career in music. Susan’s other passions include: photography (@SBBSPhotography on FB + IN), acting, cooking, and arts + crafts.

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