October is officially Breast Cancer Awareness month and a lot of organizations and brands are already gearing up to show their support. Prepare to see a lot of pink!

According to the CDC, more than 200,000 American women get breast cancer each year while more than 40,000 women die from the disease. Although breast cancer is more common in women whose are the age of 50 and older, 10% of new cases are found in women 45 years old and below. Breast cancer can also affect men, who make up about 1% of cases every year.

Reducing Your Risk

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women. Although there is still no absolute way to prevent breast cancer, early detection and treatment are crucial in surviving the disease. You can also reduce your risk by leading a healthy and active lifestyle.

Here are some things that you can do lower your risk:

• Exercise regularly. Research shows that exercise can help lower risk of all types of cancer. It is recommended to perform 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week, which translates to about 30 minutes of physical activity a day.
• Eat healthy. Increase your intake of the healthy stuff and say no to processed foods. Make sure to add fruits and vegetables to your diet. Fruits like berries and green, leafy vegetables have a lot of cancer-fighting nutrients and compounds in them.
• Get mammograms regularly. Women whose age are 45 and older should start breast cancer screening once a year while women younger than 45 can ask their doctor about this. In October, a lot of clinics offer free mammograms so this is the best month to start. Check your local clinics for free breast cancer screening.
• Do breast self-exam once a month. You can do this in the shower, in front of the mirror, or even lying down. In a circular motion, feel for lumps or unusual swelling in your breast area including your armpits. Doing this monthly can increase your chances of early detection.

Show Your Support

Everybody is encouraged to show their support for breast cancer awareness month. We suggest that you check your local community on breast cancer awareness events that you can join in.

You may also try these simple activities to show your support:

• Increase awareness in your community. Wearing a pink ribbon this October can start a conversation about breast cancer. You can also share some breast cancer literature on your social media profiles to increase awareness.
• Join fundraisers or create your own. There are a lot of marathons and fun walks that you can participate in. You can also hold your own fundraiser by doing a simple bake sale or garage sale in your local community.
• Support brands campaigning for breast cancer awareness. If you must shop this month, choose brands that support breast cancer awareness. There are a lot of brands that support this cause with part of their proceeds going to breast cancer research. Pink clothing, pink items, go crazy!

We are hoping that one day, breast cancer will be an issue of the past. For now, let’s continue the fight by doing our part in raising breast cancer awareness this October.

This article contains general information about medical conditions and treatments. The information is not advice and should not be treated as such. The information is not intended to replace the advice or diagnosis of a physician. If you have any specific questions about any medical matter you should consult your doctor or other professional healthcare provider.