Blouse • Romwe | Faux Leather Skirt • Ann Taylor (also in petite and tall) | Scarf • Nordstrom | Bag • Michael Kors | Shoes • Christian Louboutin | Sunglasses • similar Nordstrom | Watch • Michael Kors | Lip Pencil • M·A·C Subculture | Lipstick • M·A·C Creme d’ Nude | Lip Gloss • M·A·C Myth
October, the month when leaves are turning. Well maybe not here in the southwest, but in other parts of the country the colorful pageantry has begun. The gorgeous reds, oranges, purples and yellows always take my breath away. The changing of the leaves probably hold more magic for me now that I don’t see them every year (and now that I don’t have to rake them!) but if there is a month that makes me nostalgic for the East Coast it’s October.
Another color is always prevalent this month. Pink is everywhere, from everyday products you use to novelty items you chuckle over. It’s on fashionistas (always), but football players? Pink, especially pink in October, has become synonymous with breast cancer awareness. Breast cancer affects nearly everyone in some way or another. If you haven’t had it or known someone who has, you know someone who knows someone who has.
According to Wikipedia, the number of U.S. soldiers who died as a result of fighting in the Vietnam War from 1955-1975 was around 47,000. The Center for Disease Control cites over 41,000 U.S. women died from breast cancer in 2012. Those women died in this country with its advanced medical detection and treatment abilities three years ago. That is slightly less than the number of students who attend the University of Southern California. How is this happening?
I believe a lot of the problem has to do with the detection process. Early detection may literally rest in our own hands, through monthly breast self-examinations. We have a responsibility to ourselves and our families to check ourselves monthly. We’ve all heard early detection is key and monthly exams are our first line of defense.
Self-examination is easy enough if we remember to do it. You can easily search online or talk with your gynecologist about proper timing and technique. That’s usually not the process that gives us pause; mention “mammogram” to most women and watch us wince and wrap our arms around ourselves protectively. Mammograms are most uncomfortable. I think I prefer the “other” female exam to that one, however, mammograms are an essential part of the detection and prevention process.
Once you reach 40, most experts in the medical community agree you should have a mammogram annually. Neat. Unpleasant as they may be, annual checks give you a much better chance of finding anything unusual and allow you to start necessary treatment while your survival chances are high. That’s worth 30-ish minutes of discomfort once a year.
Speaking of once a year, it’s about time for my trip to mammography paradise. I’ll be making my appointment this week. How about you?
