October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The statistics are discouraging with about 27,000 women losing their lives every year in Kenya and the average age of patients steadily dropping. This means that women need to be make cancer awareness a huge part of their lives. Here are few things you can do to take control of your health.
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Be aware of your body
Too many women unfortunately, are not very aware of their bodies. Get yourself a full-length mirror and look at yourself so you can be aware of what your body looks like, so you can quickly notice when something is different. Take any symptoms seriously and go see a doctor without waiting for it to get worse. Cancer requires an early diagnosis for effective treatment so don’t wait till it’s too late.
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Schedule a breast exam and pap smear
If you’re above 18 and sexually active, you should schedule a pap smear every year. Even if you’re not sexually active, if you’re above 25 you should schedule a pap smear and breast exam. If you’re above 40, schedule a mammogram as well. Being aware of your body and scheduling check-ups will increase your chances of early diagnosis and treatment.
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Cut out tobacco and reduce processed foods in your diet
Scientists and doctors may not agree on all the factors that increase your chances of developing cancer, but they agree on tobacco and processed foods especially meats with preservatives. Quit smoking and limit processed foods.
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Implement a healthy diet
This is something we should all know but we do not necessarily follow. You don’t need to be militarily healthy, but do at least try the basics such as decreasing sugar and junk intake and increasing water, fruits and vegetables intake.
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Exercise
Just 30 minutes thrice a week makes a difference. Join a gym or follow one of the numerous workouts available online. You can even join a workout group or dance class. The idea is to add some exercise into your daily routine so even things like using the stairs instead of elevator and walking from work add to this.
