October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Here at Plant Therapy, you know how much we love our customers. We love you all so much that we can’t help but bring up something so very, very important: breast cancer. And since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to take a moment during this worldwide annual campaign to provide all of you with a little information the subject and a whole lot of encouragement to perform regular self-checks.
Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, with one in eight women here in the U.S. being diagnosed in their lifetime. It’s estimated that each year more than 252,710 U.S. women will be diagnosed and about 40,500 will sadly lose their battle.
Breast Cancer doesn’t just affect women!
Men can also develop breast cancer, though it is significantly less common. Every year an estimated 2,470 men are diagnosed and approximately 460 will lose their lives to it. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, coworkers, mentors — no matter your age, race, or ethnic group, breast cancer does not discriminate.
Of course, this is very sobering information. And although breast cancer cannot be prevented, there are steps we can all take to help ourselves detect signs as soon as possible. The earlier we begin receiving the care needed to treat breast cancer, the more likely we will be to survive it. Today, there are more than 3.3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S and these strong and resilient women and men prove that this is most definitely a winnable battle.
So, what can you do, starting today, that may very truly save your life?
Self-checks need to become a part of your monthly routine; it only takes a few minutes and is a simple way to discover lumps, changes in breast tissue, or other abnormalities. You just cannot wait until your yearly exam to be screened for breast cancer; performing monthly self-checks can alert you to changes in your breast tissue that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. Time matters when it comes to cancer treatment.
If you’re ready to start performing self-checks, or you already do so, you may enjoy incorporating your favorite carrier oils and essential oils into the process. We hope you enjoy this blend of wonderfully relaxing and uplifting essential oils, along with our suggestion of the Marvelous Massage Carrier Oil, to help make your self-checks a more comfortable experience.
Relaxing Self-Check Master Blend
What you’ll need:
- 12 drops Yuzu
- 9 drops Ho Wood
- 9 drops Orange Sweet
- 6 drops Cedarwood Atlas
What you’ll do:
Dilute the Master Blend to 1-2% in the carrier oil of your choice (our Marvelous Massage Carrier Oil would be ideal). To perform a breast self-check, begin by lying down. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast in circular motions with varying degrees of pressure. Cover the entire breast area, nipple, and armpit. Repeat these steps for your left breast. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your healthcare provider.
*Statistics provided by nationalbreastcancer.org.
For more information on breast cancer and performing self-checks, please make sure to visit one of these sites:
