It’s alarming when you started noticing your friends around you being robbed away by the number 1 cancer for females – Breast Cancer. Very often, it starts from a small “mass” or “rock”on your boobs and many don’t even notice until it’s at the last stage. It is important for us to spread awareness on taking care of our bosom friends.
Facts
The incidence of breast cancer tripled from 23.8 per 100,000 person-years in 1975 to 1979 to 64.6 per 100,000 person-years in 2010 to 2014. It is the most common cancer among women in Singapore, with 9,284 women diagnosed with breast cancer between the years 2010 to 2014. Source
6 Ways to care for your breast
Eat Right, Eat Healthy
Eating a healthy diet can improve your overall well being including your breasts. Choose high-fibre, low-fat and whole grain foods can help lower the risk of fibrocystic breast disease. Salmon, soybeans, tofu, broccoli, walnuts, olive oil and coffee can be included in your diet.
Practice Breast Self-Exams
Practise monthly breast self-examination to check for anything that’s not normal, unusual lumps or swelling. Best time to do is during shower or applying lotion.
Moisturise
Not just our face requires moisturising, our breasts needs it as well. Our skin on our chest are thin and sensitive and that is why it requires more care.
Healthy Lifestyle
Having a right diet is not sufficient, better to combine it with exercise. Increased physical activity reduces the overall risk of breast cancer by 10-30%, so moderate exercise will help protect our breasts.
Avoid Hormone Replacement Therapy
Taking menopausal hormone therapy increases risk for breast cancer. Natural way is always the best way, which is through Exercise. This allows the body to release more endorphins (happy hormones) in the most natural way.
Massage
We have multiple lumps nodes around our bodies, including our breasts. These lymph nodes carry fluid called lymph which helps fight off illness. The lymphatic system relies on the movement of the body to keep the fluid moving along, and one way of helping it out is to massage in the direction of our lymphatic system. Massaging helps to de-stress and allow your body to feel better.
Prevention is always better than cure. Take time out to care for your breasts.
If you need professional help in massaging and caring for your breasts, click here to find out more!
Remember, self care is self love <3