The Importance of Education During Breast Cancer Awareness Month

One in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime. This staggering statistic means it is very likely most everyone will be impacted by the disease at some point, whether it be personal or through a loved one. Breast cancer victims and survivors include women from all walks of life: mothers, sisters, daughters, co-workers, and even celebrities.

Celebrities like Giuliana Rancic were able to detect their cancer with the help of mammogram screenings. At the time of diagnosis, she was 36 years old. Moreover, she had no family history of cancer until she got her mammogram done as part of her IVF treatment. It showed she was in the early stage of cancer. Sheryl Crow and Cynthia Nixon were also diagnosed after routine mammogram screenings. Nixon’s mother is a cancer survivor, whereas Crow did not even have a family history. Thankfully, they were able to beat the disease by taking action right away.

There is no doubt mammograms save lives and are excellent indicators that help to detect cancer, but they, too, have certain downsides. Sometimes, abnormal cells are identified in the X-ray and can result in false positives. These are actually non-cancerous cells. Further diagnostic tests should be done after a mammogram. Still, for some women, anxiety and stress may result due to false positives, and follow-up diagnostic procedures require an unnecessary financial burden. It has been noted that as the number of screenings increases, the chances of getting a false positive result increases as well. Sometimes, the tests may not detect cancer. Kylie, an Australian singer, went through a screening in which the first round came back clear, but the second round discovered cancer. It is always better to be safe than sorry. Follow your gut feeling just like Kylie did. The diagnostic potential of mammograms can save your life even though false positive results may cause some inconvenience for a short period of time. 

From a young age, women are taught to detect breast cancer by performing a self-diagnosis. Self-diagnoses have saved many lives by identifying cancerous lumps in the breast. Musician Melissa Etheridge discovered her breast cancer while conducting a self-exam.  She had previously lost many family members to this disease, but Etheridge still carried on with her career as she battled cancer. Self-administered breast exams are an extremely important first step in identifying potentially cancerous abnormalities. A further diagnosis is needed to confirm the suspicion, but women can take their health into their own hands by doing self-examinations. 

The course of treatment differs for every woman, but each one goes through certain standard measures, such as chemotherapy, radiation, and lumpectomy surgery. Some may opt for a mastectomy in severe cases or as a preventive measure. One such example is Angelina Jolie. 

Men, too, can suffer from breast cancer. However, the mortality rate is higher in women. Men may delay treatment due to lack of awareness. Celebrities affected by breast cancer are an inspiration to everyone. They encourage women to take control of their own health and not fear what others will think. These celebrities have taught the importance of detecting cancer at an early stage. You are not alone in this battle, nor should you feel ashamed to go through with a diagnosis. Such celebrities are a source of hope for others.