Breast Cancer Awareness

Happy November everyone! As Halloween passed, so did the end of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is extremely common in women over the age of 40, and occurs when abnormal breast cells grow out of control and form tumours, which can be fatal if uncontrolled. 1 in 12 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, and roughly half of all breast cancers occur with no specific risk factors other than age. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is every October, and is meant to help educate people about breast cancer, fundraise for breast cancer research, and encourage women to go for regular mammograms after 40. So, what is a mammogram? Well, mammograms are X-rays of the breasts, and doctors use them to look for abnormalities in the breasts. It can detect breast cancer before any symptoms develop, and a tumour that can’t be felt, and studies have shown that having regular mammograms can lower your risk of dying from breast cancer. In conclusion, women should check in with their doctors about when and how frequently to get a screening, especially if it runs in the family. Stay healthy everyone!

Sincerely,

Divya and Isha, on behalf of the Board