Get Breast Cancer Savvy

Once again, it's October. And that means it's Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Breast Cancer is something that has become so prominent in society today, with everyone being touched by it in some way or another. Whether it be a family member, friend or simply someone who knows someone who knows someone.
It is the most common cancer in UK, with around 55,000 people being diagnosed every year.

With Breast Cancer 'facts' being bombarded at us, there's no wonder we get so confused about what to believe.

Time to battle some myths.

• Breast cancer does not only affects women. Men are susceptible to the disease as well.
• Underwired bras do not increase your risk.
• Deodorants do not increase the risk. Although they contain parabens, the amount is so small that it doesn't increase the risk at all.
• Living near power lines and electricity pylons do not increase your risk.
• Younger women are not at a higher risk of developing the disease.
• Pregnancy has no relation to developing the disease.
• Breast pain and bruises do not cause cancer.
• Breast implants do not increase the risk.
• Caffeine does not increase the risk of breast cancer.
• Having small breasts does not reduce your risk. Breasts of any size are capable of developing the disease.
• Family History of the disease does not make it more likely for you to develop breast cancer. In fact 70% of sufferers have no family history of it at all.

If you ever come across any irregularities, not necessarily lumps, then you should go to your GP to get checked out.

Some signs to look out for are;

• Swelling in the breast.
• Dimpling in the skin.
• Skin irritation.
• Redness.
• Scaliness.
• Nipple Retraction.

Although 80% of breast lumps found, turn out to be benign, you should always get checked out. 

At the age of 30, the chance of developing breast cancer is 1 in 2000. However, by the time you reach 85, that has dramatically increased to 1 in 8.

So what can you do to reduce the risk of Breast Cancer?

• Having children at a younger age (before 30) can reduce the risk.
• Along with breast feeding, the longer the better.
• Ensure you are a healthy weight and a healthy BMI, especially once you reach menopause.
• Keep an eye on alcohol consumption, as regularly drinking more than one unit a day can slightly raise your risk.
• Regular exercise can lower the risk of developing breast cancer.
• Eat a diet high in fruit, veg, poultry and fish, along with low dairy products.
• Do not drink water from plastic bottles that have been left in the car, or in a warm area, as the heat causes toxins to seep into the water.

Above all though, know your breasts. Make sure you regularly check them, or get a partner to check them. Any changes, however small or insignificant, and you should go to see your GP.

What happens when you find a lump? 

The next blog will go into detail about what happens when you find a lump.

The Perks of Being in The Right Size

There are many, many reasons why you should ensure you're wearing the Right Bra Size.

 

Wearing the wrong bra size, can not only look unsightly, but can cause health problems too.

As we all wear our bras everyday, they are the most worn garments out of our entire wardrobe. They should also be the most cherished, as they can determine how good you look in any outfit.

Every woman should own, on average, between 7-10 bras. But it's been noted that infact many of us own less than 5!

Not only should we own more bras, we should also own a variety of styles. Each different style can create a different shape and control how that dress sits. Now, if you're like me, I'm terrible at finding a style and sticking to it, no matter what I'm wearing.

Well now's the time to get out of that rut!

Wearing the wrong bra size can cause many problems, all of which I'm sure we'd like to avoid.

The most common bra related problems are neck, back and shoulder pain. And I'm sure we've all fallen victim to these particular problems at one time or another. 

You've had a long day in the office, you get home and are left leaving you feeling achy. But you never thought it could be your bra causing this. In fact, the tension a bra can cause on the neck, back and shoulder muscles can also lead to headaches!

As well as causing back pain, ill fitting bras can cause our worst nightmare. The Back Bulge!! We're all set for a nice pair of boobs on the front, but nobody wants a second pair on the back...

Another health problem that is quietly caused by bad bras is stomach pain and indigestion. This is all due to the band being too tight and therefore digging in to the ribs and stomach area.

Who knew bras could be so troublesome!

Wearing a bra that is too big, has no support. This is alot worse that many of us think. Wearing an unsupportive bra can actually cause the ligaments in the breast to stretch. And before you think, bigger boobs, this actually makes them saggier. And nobody wants that.

As if all that wasn't enough for you to want to get fitted, here is the final reason to wear the right size bra.

It can have the affect of shaving 5lbs off your figure!

So are you wearing The Right Size?