5 Meaningful Things You Can Do During and After Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 30, 2019
As breast cancer awareness month comes to a close, it's easy to put the pink ribbons away and stop sharing those posts on social media. We're here to urge you not to do that. Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of people annually. In fact, an estimated 268,600 new cases of breast cancer will be diagnosed in women before 2019 ends.
So what can you do to contribute during breast cancer awareness month and beyond? Here are a few ideas.
Donate to Causes that Focus on Patient Support
When you donate to a charity that focuses on patient support, you're supporting organizations helping patients who are currently living with breast cancer. Whether they're undergoing treatment, in remission, or have just received a diagnosis, organizations that focus on patient support take many forms. From makeup and hair classes to full payment of treatment, these organizations are helping breast cancer patients through what may be the most difficult time in their lives. Even your family urgent care physician may have resources for some of these charities. Consider donating your time or money to one of these charities.
Donate to Research Initiatives
One of the biggest issues surrounding breast cancer awareness month is the fact that it spends a lot of time promoting awareness, but not so much time promoting research. By donating to a charity that has specific research initiatives, you're ensuring that there's funding behind scientists who are actively working to prevent and cure breast cancer. The clinical applications of this kind of research can be vital to patients. The more we know about this disease, the better chance we have at preventing it.
Learn How to Perform a Self-Exam
Breast self-exams are one of the first ways someone can determine abnormalities in their breast tissue. Here, we'll provide a few basic tips for performing this exam. You should inquire with your doctor or a family urgent care physician for more detailed information and steps on how to perform this exam on yourself. But for a start, here are a few basic things you should look for when performing a breast self-exam:
- Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of skin
- Inverted or displaced nipples
- Redness or swelling
- Fluid coming from nipples
- Unusual, size, shape, or discoloration
Again, these are very basic things you should be looking for. For more detailed information on how to perform this exam, make sure you consult your family urgent care physician or your primary care doctor.
Donate Clothes to a Local Chemotherapy Center
Things like blankets, hats, scarves, and gloves can make all the difference in chemotherapy centers. Most community oncologists will accept these donations. Privacy issues mean you probably won't get to speak with the patients your donations are helping, but this is an excellent way to contribute to your local community. If you or someone you know knits or crochets, a donation of handmade goods may also be appreciated.
Listen to the People You Know Who Have Cancer
Many cancer awareness projects frame patients as "heroes" and "warriors." The reality is that patients may not always see themselves that way, and they don't have to. Every cancer patient has a different story. If you want to do more than be aware of breast cancer, it's your responsibility to listen to those stories without judging or inserting yourself. When someone you know who has cancer is telling you about what they need, make an effort to give that to them. It could mean much more than you know.
Breast cancer awareness extends beyond this month. Any one of these activities has the potential to make a real difference during and after breast cancer awareness month. How will you help cancer patients this year?
