Fighting Breast Cancer: Here's How You Can Help
Breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer in the United States. There are many wonderful charities and organizations currently working to fund breast cancer support programs and help individuals and communities fight breast cancer.
PixieLane wants to be part of the solution. We’re dedicated to providing lifestyle needs to families and communities, and that goes beyond high-quality, long-lasting clothing.
Here’s a look at some of the best ways to help support breast cancer patients and fight breast cancer in your own community today.
What Is Breast Cancer?
Cancer causes cells to grow unchecked, and with breast cancer, excess cell growth develops in the breast. While breast cancer most commonly occurs in women, men can get breast cancer, as well. That’s why it’s so important to know how to recognize signs of breast cancer early, so you can get the support you need for yourself or your loved ones.
Breast cancer symptoms will present in several different ways, but one of the most common symptoms is a lump in the breast. Not all lumps in the breast are malignant tumors, which is why it’s so important to get regular mammograms and practice regular breast cancer prevention and checks.
If you notice changes in your breast health, it’s important to get a health check as soon as possible. Speak to your doctor if your breasts show signs of swelling unrelated to benign hormone changes, redness or flaking on the breast or around the nipple, pain in the nipple, or other inexplicable symptoms. The more you know about breast cancer signs, the sooner you can get the care you need.
What Can We Do to Help?
Breast cancer affects hundreds of thousands of people every year, in families and communities around the country and around the world. Cancer treatments like chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation can be costly and challenging to navigate, but there are many ways to help be part of the solution.
Here are some of the best methods for supporting breast cancer organizations and helping to fight breast cancer.
Raise Awareness
Sharing information about breast cancer is essential. More awareness can help to get more money and resources shared with breast cancer patients and families, so they can focus on getting the breast cancer treatment they need. It also means that more individuals know what to look for when it comes to breast cancer prevention and early detection.
Awareness campaigns can include information on how to lower the risk of breast cancer, like limiting alcohol consumption, staying active, and even breastfeeding.
A healthy diet with ingredients like fresh vegetables, whole grains, and foods rich in vitamins, supplements, and nutrients may not directly reduce your breast cancer risk. They can help to reduce the risk of obesity, however, which comes with an increased risk of breast cancer.
While more research is needed, nutrition is often tied to a lower risk of breast cancer. Other risk factors include going through menopause and a high intake of fried food.
Dietitians recommend eating foods high in fiber and phytochemicals like kale, broccoli, and carrots. Avoiding red meat like bacon over a lifetime can also help regulate estrogen levels, inflammation, and heart disease, as well as potentially minimizing the appearance of breast cancer cells.
Awareness campaigns can reach broad and wide and support health and wellness for the entire community.
Donate Your Time
With many breast cancer organizations and programs to pick from, you have many great options when it comes to donating your time to fight for the cause. You can volunteer at events and activities.
Help out at sporting events like marathons—or sign up yourself! Work tables at festivals or events, or host a fundraiser of your own to help raise money for breast cancer patients and families.
You can volunteer online with education, advocacy, or even logistical work that spreads awareness and helps to keep breast cancer support efforts in progress. Or, if you want to get more hands-on with your community members, consider driving patients to appointments, picking up medications and groceries, or volunteering in hospitals.
Whatever your strengths or interests might be, there’s a way to donate your time and energy to help support breast cancer survivors in your community.
Shop to Support
Many companies and organizations will donate part of their purchases to breast cancer resources and support. If you’re looking to purchase new clothing, gifts, jewelry, or houseware, then consider looking for a shop that donates parts of its proceeds.
Some companies will keep up their donation options all year long, which means you can give back with every purchase. You’ll find even more donations and purchase matching during the month of October, which is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Typically, these items are labeled or colored pink so that they’re easy to recognize, but with a little bit of research, you can find many great choices for gifts and essentials that give a little back.
Look at where you want to see the donations go before you buy. Some will donate money directly to lab work, others to hospitals and some to individual patient funds. Find the best organizations to support your community and provide for breast cancer patients in myriad ways.
Pause for a Cause
Breast cancer is incredibly common, and there are many causes for it. That’s why awareness and breast cancer prevention information is so essential. And there are many wonderful ways to be part of the solution.
PixieLane is here to help. Our work goes beyond carrying wardrobe essentials for busy families and moms on the go. We also want to share the tools and resources that can help you to engage with your communities and support the fight against breast cancer.
You can help to raise awareness through information campaigns. You can also help by donating your time, through events and activities, personal fundraisers, or education campaigns.
Many companies and organizations will also match your purchases during Breast Cancer Awareness Month and all year long. That means every purchase can help to support solutions for patients, survivors, and families.
For more information on getting involved in the fight against breast cancer and to connect with your community in more great ways, turn to the team at PixieLane. Join our family today.
Sources:
What is Breast Cancer? | American Cancer Society
Breast Cancer Prevention: How You Can Reduce Your Risk | Mayo Clinic
