Are You Taking Care of Yourself?

Sisters, Let's talk about Breast Cancer. October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I would like to encourage you to, not only wear pink, but I would also like to tell you about the Hattie McDaniel.

Hattie McDaniel was the first African American woman to win an Academy Award. She died as a result of the disease in her late fifties. Cancer is affecting more and more women in America. However, African-American women are more likely than all other women to die from breast cancer. Their tumors often are found at a later, more advanced stage. So, there are fewer treatment options.

Some other reasons for this may include not being able to get health care or not following-up after getting abnormal test results. Also, research has shown that African-American women are more likely to get a form of breast cancer that spreads more quickly. Ladies, Its time to get serious with your breast exam.

What Are Risk Factors? Anything that may increase the chance of developing cancer is a risk factor. Risk factors for cancer can be grouped into four types:
1. Behavioral risk factors
2. Environmental risk factors
3. Biological risk factors
4. Genetic risk factors

Ladies give yourself a self exam weekly, do not forget to schedule an exam for a woman in your family.