It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
That can mean different things to different people. For almost everybody, it means spotting the trademark pink ribbons on passersby as you’re out and about. For many, it means sparing a thought for a loved one, whether they’re battling, or have battled – for better or worse – we hold these people deeply in our hearts. It means sharing stories, and discussing prevention and hope, or memories of loved ones who fought hard, yet are gone too soon.
For us at Fresh Living, it’s just as personal. Our amazing staff have their stories to tell. We all do. As the author and social media associate with Fresh Living, my story is simple: I never knew my grandmother, but thankfully, she got to know me. Until I was two, and breast cancer put her name on the list.
I think about her, sometimes. I think of how different the world is in 2018 than it was in the 80’s. What we know now, compared to what we knew then.
For instance, in Canada alone in 2017, it’s estimated there were over 26,000 new cases of breast cancer among women. It’s estimated just under 5,000 women lost that fight last year. That means for every 100,000 Canadians, 130 women were diagnosed, and breast cancer claimed another 23.
Those are harrowing numbers.
At this time, there isn’t a definitive solution. There’s no cure-all, no perfect plan to follow. One of our slogans is Life Made Easy – we believe in empowering people to live a higher quality of life, both through the services we offer and through connections with our clients and followers. Therefore, for this week’s Fresh Tip Friday, we want to provide information on a few lifestyle adjustments for you or the lady in your life that will limit your/their chances of developing breast cancer, or assist in the fight.
- Exercise!
The European Code Against Cancer suggests that insufficient activity levels may flat-out cause 9% of breast cancer cases (and 10% of colon cancer cases) in Europe. The recommended amount of physical activity is 150 minutes of moderate-intensity activity per week. That’s a half-hour 5 times per week! Easy!
- Mix up the Diet
There are plenty of schools of thought on this front, but the main elements all come together: red meat has been linked to cancers, including breast cancers, and very few of us are achieving the recommended number of servings of fruit. The recommendation is for a wide variety of the more colourful fruits and vegetables, as well as soybeans, legumes, and fiber-rich items, such as hemp seeds and beans. Giving the vegan lifestyle a try, even “part time,” can be very beneficial.
- Curb Cocktails
And not just fancy drinks, either. Alcohol has been proven to increase the risk of breast cancer by 15% (three or more drinks per week). Alcohol can increase the amount of estrogen in the body, which can increase one’s risk. The recommendation is to cut back on the weekly number of drinks.
- Smoke-Free!
This one’s a gimme. Female smokers have dramatically increased risk of breast cancer. By over a third. In fact, smoking is believed to be responsible for 30% of all cancer deaths, according to the American Cancer Society. It’s as simple as quitting. And you’ve been thinking about that for a while anyhow, haven’t you?
- Chemical Cleaning
While it has not been conclusively proven, there is some evidence linking increased breast cancer risk to the inhalation of household chemicals used to clean, including products meant to combat mold and mildew, toilet cleaners, bleach cleaners, and ammonia-based cleaners. On account of this being a very complex study to conduct, the research isn’t fully there yet. However, it’s a word of caution; there are plenty of safe, natural, environmentally friendly products available as potential alternatives.
If you’re reading this, thank you. Thank you for being a part of our little community. Thank you for supporting a local company. For every hour of cleaning we perform in the month of October, a dollar goes to breast cancer research. We want to be part of the cure. But until then, we just want to help.
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