Oct. 7, 2022
With the month of October comes Fall, Halloween & Breast Cancer Awareness. About 1 in 8 women (13%) will develop invasive breast cancer over the course of her lifetime. In 2022 an estimated 287,850 new cases of invasive breast cancer are expected to be diagnosed in women in the U.S. along with 51,400 new cases of non-invasive breast cancer, making it the most common cancer for American women except for skin cancer. This year alone, an estimated 43,550 American women will die from breast cancer. However, there are over 3.8 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S. mostly due to early detection. Therefore, self-care is vital during, after & even BEFORE being diagnosed.
BEFORE
Early detection is key! With early detection, diagnosis & treatment, the chance of beating breast cancer is greater than 90%. Although breast cancer occurs at similar rates in African American & Caucasian women, African American women are 42% more likely to die from the disease. This is due to higher poverty rates, lack of adequate health insurance & less access to the healthcare system. Because of this, African American women often wait long periods in between screenings & cannot follow up on concerning results immediately. As a result, they are more likely to receive breast cancer diagnosis at later stages of the disease. Shangri'La Candle Co recommends these self-care tips before even being diagnosed:
Perform a breast self-exam every month on the same day of the month if possible. Set a re-occurring alarm on your phone to remind you
3 to 5 days after your period starts is the best time to do a monthly self-breast exam
It's best to be relaxed when doing your self-exam so we recommend doing it during a warm shower or while laying down or standing & using lubrication such as body oil or body butter
Add self-breast exams to your regular self-care routine
Get your yearly mammogram on time every year
Talk about family history
DURING
In the unfortunate event that you are diagnosed with the possibility of breast cancer, the first step is extensive diagnostic testing, which can be nerve-racking. A biopsy is the only way to tell for sure if an area is cancerous or not. It's very common to experience feelings of anxiety, depression, fear & even anger. Stress levels are usually high & you may experience insomnia. However, rest & sleep are critical during this time & stress management is imperative. Stress can speed up the spread of cancer throughout the body, especially in ovarian, colorectal & breast cancer. When the body becomes stressed, neurotransmitters like norepinephrine are released which stimulate cancer cells. This is the time to pamper yourself more than ever as the treatment phase can be very emotionally, mentally & physically draining. Shangri' La Candle Co recommends these self-care tips during breast cancer treatment:
Warm water is very soothing. Take baths preferably with Epsom bath salts to help with body aches or try baths by candlelight. If a bath isn't an option, take warm showers & rub down with a body oil or body butter/lotion afterwards. Loose & comfortable loungewear & robes are a pleasant luxury after bathing.
Keeping a journal can be therapeutic during this time. "Sleep journaling" can help improve the quality of your sleep. Using a journal before bed can be beneficial to your mental health & wellbeing, allowing you to process your thoughts from the day & preventing you from overthinking when you are trying to sleep.
Mediation by candlelight or dim lighting is a great way to relax & improve focus, sleep quality & mood.
Chemotherapy is known to cause nausea & affect taste buds, so maintaining a healthy diet can be hard. Stay hydrated & try to keep your energy level up as much as possible by drinking lots of water, tea, broth and/or protein drinks like Ensure. Juicing is another great option to maintain healthy nutrition.
AFTER
After making it through chemotherapy, radiation or a mastectomy and beating cancer, the physical & mental healing process begins. Studies have shown that breast cancer patients, after completion of treatment, seek to move on & return to a "normal life". However, your body has been through a lot & it may not be as easy as you thought or hoped it would be. Things like fatigue, "chemo brain" (long term side effects of memory loss, inability to concentrate & difficulty thinking after receiving chemo treatments), struggles with body image & fear of cancer returning can come into play. Developing a self-care routine during this time can speed-up or improve the healing process and help build energy & confidence. Shangri' La Candle Co. recommends these tips for self-care after breast cancer treatment:
Get moving! Light to moderate exercise is one of the most important things you can do to stay healthy after breast cancer. Research has shown that women who exercise have an improved quality of life & have fewer side effects during & following treatment. Timing, or when you can actually start exercising is best determined by one's healthcare provider.
Eat healthy! Studies have shown that breast cancer survivors whose diet include more vegetables, fruits, whole grains, chicken & fish tend to live longer & have a better quality of life than those who don't.
Stay positive! The power of positive thinking is real & is beneficial to your overall health. Spend time doing things that you love & that make you feel good. Spend time with people that uplift & motivate you.
Join a breast cancer survivor support group as it helps to have people invested in your recovery.
DO NOT miss a checkup! Even after completing breast cancer treatment, your doctors will still want to watch you closely. Its very important to go to all of your follow-up appointments which are usually every 3-4 months during the first 2-3 years after treatment & once or twice a year after that.
Remember to invest in your health by investing in yourself because selfcare IS healthcare!
Sincerely,
~Brandi B~
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