October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is my birth month, but it’s only this year that I was made aware that it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A prestigious beauty brand approached me to help spread the word about their Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign and I took time out to go through it. Normally I don’t pay too much attention to PR requests unless it’s for product reviews because reposting PRs just isn’t my style (unless it’s to announce really awesome promos or sales that I feel people will benefit from). I don’t think my readers want to peruse cut and paste material or reposted stuff and so I don’t bother most of the time.

This time it was different. It was about breast cancer, something that’s very real to me since I have an aunt, a second cousin and a longtime helper who have survived the disease. I remember coming across a really idiotic meme on Facebook last September about posting weeks and cravings on your status update, making it seem as if you're pregnant. So your status reads something like this "I'm 2 weeks and craving chocolate mints!". Ugh. This is allegedly supposed to increase breast cancer awareness. Don't ask me how because honestly I don't get it. Teen girls who posted it probably gave their elders a heart attack. How the heck is pretending to be pregnant going to help raise breast cancer awareness?

Anyhow, the Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign culminated in a launch event that featured top model Patty Betita as guest speaker. I was surprised. I had no idea Patty Betita was a breast cancer survivor… but there she was talking about how she felt a tiny lump in her breast, which prompted her to see a doctor. She had a mammogram, ultrasound, etc. and everything came out negative. Still, she had a nagging feeling that it wasn’t as simple as it seemed and so she went for a second opinion. She was consequently diagnosed with early stage breast cancer. Since it was early stage, she underwent surgery to take out the cyst and tests confirmed that it had not yet spread. Patty also underwent chemotherapy and radiation after surgery. Three years have passed since then and she remains cancer-free.

Early detection dramatically increases one’s chances for cure and recovery and so it’s really important to:

• Conduct regular breast self-examinations
• Have a clinical breast exam during your annual check-up
• Have a yearly mammogram
• Go see a doctor immediately when you feel a lump that was not there before

According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer detected in its early stages, while still localized, is 98% curable.

If you have a few minutes to spare, please do leave a message of hope for women everywhere and help raise breast cancer awareness at http://www.facebook.com/BCACampaign. I may not be the most socially relevant person around but this is what I can do to support a worthy cause.