Beyond October: Make Breast Awareness a Year-Round Habit

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, but I like to think of it as a reminder for breast awareness… something that should be a year-round habit.

Shocking Statistics

It’s a fact that in the United States, 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime. 

Knowing what’s normal for you—by regularly looking at and feeling your breasts—is one of the best ways to catch changes early.

Did you know?

A self-exam takes less than 2 minutes, and yet every 2 minutes a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer in the United States.

When I was feeling my breasts in the shower, I knew right away something was wrong more than two years ago. You couldn’t see the lump I felt, but I knew right away it wasn’t normal and also wasn’t “just a cyst.”

Anyone Can Become a Statistic

At just 39 years old, I became “1 in 8” when I found a lump in my breast. No family history, no prior mammograms.

I trusted my instincts, pushed for the earliest diagnostic mammogram and ultrasound I could get, and that persistence led to the official diagnosis of early-stage breast cancer that saved my life.

This month, take a few minutes to know your normal. Trust your body, and speak up if something feels off.

Awareness starts with you.

Sources: American Cancer Society & National Breast Cancer Foundation

#factfriday