ysl lipstick (208 fuchsia fetiche)
similar earrings
similar glasses

dress (c/o SheIn $43)
shoes: old, love these
October is Breast cancer awareness month! Sadly, many of us knows someone who has been affected by this terrible disease. It affects one in every eight women in the United States and is the second most diagnosed cancer in women. In other words, all women are at risk for breast cancer. Another thing to keep in mind is that men could also be affected by this. Early detection is the key in breast cancer because this is the more treatable stage and most women can be cured.

FOUR WAYS TO REDUCE RISK OF HAVING BREAST CANCER

Know the warning signs
Lump or thickening in the breast/underarm that doesn’t go away after your period.
Change(s) in the size/shape of breast
Nipple discharge or nipple turning inward
Change in color or feel of skin around the breast or nipple area
Having these symptoms doesn’t mean you have breast cancer, it means that you need to make a doctor’s appointment and be examined as soon as possible.

Know your family history.
As an African woman, this is an area where we need to improve on. I didn’t know my siblings and parents’ medical history until this year and still don’t know about other family members’. For those with strong family history of cancer, there are many preventive steps to take to protect yourself. This includes family history of parents, siblings and also extended family members- both male and females. Talking to your physician can help you understand your family history of the disease and they may refer you to a specialty clinic. They will also recommend when you should start having mammograms and other breast cancer screening. Screening exams is meant to detect abnormalities in the breast and a mammogram can find breast cancer before it can be felt.

Have an Early Detection Plan
Pay attention to your breast for changes and do monthly breast self-examinations. If you don’t know how to, do your googles or ask your doctor for help. It is recommended to start going for mammogram yearly or every other year at age 40, depending on previous findings. Mammogram should be done every year for women 50 years or older.

Being physically active and having a healthy diet can help lower the risk of breast cancer. This includes not smoking and reducing alcohol consumption. As adults, it’s hard to find time to exercise, trust me I can relate- but this is very important. You don’t have to go to the gym, it could be walking around your neighborhood or going to the mall and walking around for 30 minutes.