Early Detection and Education: The Best Weapon Against Breast Cancer

This is part of a compensated campaign with Latina Mom Bloggers and P&G However, all opinions expressed are my own.

photo credit: bookgrl via photopin cc
photo credit: bookgrl via photopin cc

One in eight women will get breast cancer in her lifetime.  That is an astonishing number and if you add to that the fact that breast cancer rates are higher among African American and Latina women there is no denying that we all need to get educated and be proactive. Every hour and a half a Latina woman dies of breast cancer in the United States.*  That is a staggering number and I think that the Latino community can do better than that, we can change those numbers by educating ourselves and encouraging our loved ones to conduct regular self exams, schedule regular medical exams, and create an early detection plan.

My grandmother Miriam is my inspiration.
My grandmother Miriam is my inspiration.

When I was in high school my grandmother got diagnosed with breast cancer, she had to have a double mastectomy but she was lucky that the cancer did not return and she went on to live for many years. I remember it well and since then I have been very aware of the importance of getting regular exams. The best way to beat breast cancer is by detecting it early. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the higher the survival rate.

The P&G Breast Cancer Awareness Campaign

The 2013 P&G Breast Cancer Awareness campaign will help save lives by making a $500,000 donation to The National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF).  This is the 6th year P&G has partnered with the NBCF and I love that this campaign is really unique in that it recognizes the importance to educate not only women but also the men in their lives so that they can encourage and support them and together create an early detection plan.   , educating not only women, but the men in their lives, about the importance of early detection, and providing the tools through which to create an early detection plan.

 

Latinos are big about family and I think that P&G is on the right track with this concept.  Breast cancer awareness is not only affect women, it affects families and because of this getting men involved so that they can motivate the women in their lives to take action not only for themselves but for everyone in the family by conducting regular self exams, scheduling regular medical exams, and creating an early detection plan.

You too can save lives by helping to spread the message that early detection is the key.

Free Mammograms

The National Breast Cancer Foundation provides free mammograms for women in need as part of their mission. You can see if they have a partner hospital in your area at: http://breastcan.cr/Jb2IZ8 If there is not a hospital in your area, check with your local hospital. They may have a program in place that can get you the mammogram you need.

So what are you doing to change those numbers? To save your lives? To save your life?  Are you doing regular self-check ups?  Have you scheduled your annual mammogram?  Have you encouraged a loved one to do so?  If you are a guy have you asked the women in your life to schedule their annual physicals and mammograms?

[important]Mujeres no more excuses, make sure you get your mammograms today if you haven’t gotten one this year!  Don’t just do it for yourselves, do it for your team, do it for your family because they need you![/important]

To get more information about the importance of early detection and to access NBCF’s Early Detection Plan App visit www.pgeveryday.com/bca.  You will also be able to hear P&G employees’ inspiring stories about moments made possible in their lives due to early detection.

* Info from the National Cancer Institute

Paula Bendfeldt-Diaz

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51 thoughts on “Early Detection and Education: The Best Weapon Against Breast Cancer”

  1. Excelente iniciativa! AL igual que tu, mi abuela también sufrió de cáncer de seno y también tuvieron que realizarle una masectomía completa, sin embargo el cáncer tampoco regreso y vivió hasta cerca de los 100 años 🙂

    Gracias por compartir Paula!

    Reply
  2. It is important. I do not have anyone in my immediate family affected by breast cancer, but I do know friends who are affected by this.

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  3. Me fascina como tantas compañías estan haciendo un gran esfuerzo por concientizarnos acerca de la importancia de la detección temprana, sin duda alguna la mejor manera de poder tratar esta enfermedad.

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  4. Very important! I have a co-worker who’s sister recently had a biopsy. It was a wake-up call that we all need to be aware and in tune with our bodies. Early detection can make a huge difference with your treatment options.

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  5. Es bueno checarse periodicamente, debemos tocarnos haber sino sentimos bolsitas o bultos en los pechos y bajo las axilas. Y tener en cuenta que no sea hereditario.

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  6. First of all, your grandmother was a beautiful woman. 🙂 Thanks for sharing her story. I don’t know of anyone in my family that had breast cancer, but my mom-in-law did have a cancer. It was detected at an early stage and the doctor was able to get the cancer out. It is sad to know a lot of women in the world died or are fighting against breast cancer. I have had a check up yet, but it is good to be able to know and be aware.

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  7. Es Importante Detectarlo a tiempo, por que asi seria mas facil tratarlo, para esto es muy necesario Auto examinarnos minimo cada Semana para estar al pendiente de cualquier cambio podamos ir a checarnos!!

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  8. It’s sad that women had to go through or human being had to go through some kind of serious illnesses like this. 3 of our friends in our congregation died from breast cancer. It’s really sad.

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  9. It is important to get mammograms and to also check for lumps yourself. Don’t be shy about going to see your doctor, your health is too important.

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  10. i do self exams for early detection and healthy eating for better protection. My mom’s brother in law lost his wife to breast cancer in August.

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  11. it’s very important to me to get mammograms and self checks, the earliier so feel something different the earlier you can make sure its not breast cancer

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  12. It is important to get checked so that you can be sure to get the medical help you need. This is scary for me, but I know it is better to get checked and be sure to prevent cancer from spreading further if that were the case. Mammograms save lives! Early detection is key.

    Reply
  13. the importance? How to not explain the importance! Its our lives and we as women and mothers, wives and sisters need to fight to stay alive and kicking for all our loved ones. Not let something that we ourselves have the responsibility to be checking for earl with earl detection of self examination get us down.

    Reply
  14. Detectar el cáncer de mama a mi madre a tiempo le salvo la vida. Hace 30 años es una sobreviviente de este cancer. Así que mi recomendación es estar atentas a cualquier cambio en nuestro cuerpo. 🙂

    Reply

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