By Nigel Chireru
Moral support for women with breast cancer comes more to light with the pink ribbon on most t-shirts and shirts we see being worn each and every month of October, not forgetting the colour itself. These ribbons come in four colours, all explaining each type of breast cancer and we shall talk about them further.
The month of October stands as the yardstick of awareness on our calendar, that’s why education about the importance of screening for early detection, and various treatment options available encourage others to take action.
We can not talk about breast cancer without describing the emblem that resembles the awareness first. The pink ribbon comes in four colours; hot pink, light pink, dark pink and lastly pink and teal. Each representing passionate action and inflammatory breast cancer, hope and optimism, gratitude and appreciation, and hereditary breast cancer along with gynecological cancers respectively.
Raising awareness about breast cancer promotes early detection, advocates for research funding and education. Wearing pink or the ribbon shows that you are holding your hand in uniting individuals, organizations and communities in the fight against breast cancer, reminding those affected that they are not alone. This also serves as a passage for people to have open discussions about the disease so as to reduce stigma of those who live with the disease.
Understanding your family history is one of another pivotal roles in the fight against breast cancer. Genetic factors are also a good thing to consider if you have strong family History.Family history plays a significant role in breast cancer risk,and if you have a first-degree relative (mother, sister, or daughter) with breast cancer, your risk increases.
Genetic mutations, such as BRCA1 and BRCA2, also increase the risk of getting the disease. By understanding your risk factors and taking proactive steps, you can reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Living a healthy lifestyle and maintain a healthy diet reduces the chances of breast cancer. Avoiding smoking reduces most of your chances of getting breast cancer. Eating fruits, and consistency on a healthy diet also reduces the risk making it easy for those at risk to prevent the disease. Breast feeding remains one of the best measures to prevent breast cancer with, and mothers are encouraged to breast feed at most than use bottled feeding.
