IT only takes a minute to perform a breast self-exam, but the effort will save thousands of lives in the long run.
New cancer statistics paved the way for Avon Philippines’s Pink Minute breast-cancer awareness campaign, an initiative that drives the importance of making breast self-exam a habit.
Pink Minute coincides with the international direct-selling company’s Breast Cancer Promise global project, which has mobilized 6 million representatives around the world to create a communication network that will raise awareness on the symptoms, risks and treatments for the disease.
The latest data from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) show that there are 2.1 million cases of breast cancer each year, with more than 626,000 recorded deaths as of 2018. This accounts for 15 percent of global cancer deaths.
“It was clear to Avon that we need to do more and we need to fight more to reduce the impact of the disease,” said Avon General Manager Razvan Diratian at the launch of the campaign.
He cited that despite these numbers, breast cancer belongs to the 30 percent of cancers that can be cured when detected early.
Forty percent of those diagnosed with the disease were women who felt a lump—and that’s why knowing how to properly conduct a breast self-check is important. The National Breast Cancer Foundation suggests these steps:
First, move your hand around your entire breast in a circular pattern, moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Check both breasts each month and feel for any lump, thickening or hardened knot. Last, look for any changes in the contour, any swelling or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. The week after your period is the best time to do this.
Breast-cancer symptoms include a lump or thickening of the breast, and changes to the skin or the nipple. Its risk factors can be genetic, but some lifestyle factors, such as alcohol intake, make it more likely to happen.
“Women have been told that the more kids you have, the lesser the risks of you getting breast cancer.
Meanwhile, it’s also been said that women who have never given birth or those who decided to have kids later in life have higher risks of getting the disease. However, there are still several things to consider, like if this woman is physically active and watches her diet. A healthy lifestyle is still paramount to decreasing the risks of getting breast cancer,” explained Dr. Rachel Rosario, Philippine Cancer Society executive director.
Older women have the largest risk of developing breast cancer, which is why routine mammograms are generally conducted to those over 50. Also every woman has unique risk factors that are specific to her, but 2 to 5 in every 100 cancer diagnosis are linked to an inherited gene fault.
Currently, there is a range of treatments available to cure the disease, including surgery, radiation therapy and chemotherapy. Rosario also noted that while many breast lumps are not cancerous, any woman concerned about a lump or change in breast size should see a doctor.
“Approximately 20,000 women a year will get it, and this is just the new cases. Around 7,000 of this number will succumb to breast cancer because they were diagnosed late. With this, we say that early detection will really save lives,” said Rosario.
She added, “Today, Western countries are veering away from calling breast self-check as ‘life-saving’ because they already have regular screening protocols which we still don’t have in the Philippines.” However, according to her, there are still ways to help curb the disease, like educational initiatives under the Pink Minute project.
This month, establishments like the Mall of Asia Globe, The Manila Hotel, Manila City Hall, Eton Centris, PET Plans Building and Saint Francis Square will be lighted in pink to shed light on the ongoing movement against the disease.
A little later this month, Avon celebrity ambassadors, associates and women from different cancer support groups will gather at the Quezon City Memorial Circle grounds for the symbolic lighting of the Quezon City Memorial Monument.
Shoppers can also support this awareness campaign by availing themselves of the Live Love Laugh Necklace, a symbolic token that aims to raise funds for women fighting breast cancer. For each purchase, P50 will go to the maintenance of the breast cancer wing of the Philippine General Hospital, which provides health care and assistance to approximately 150 women a day, offering free breast health guidance, consultation and check-ups.
“Ensuring that no woman is left in the dark when it comes to breast cancer begins with reminding them to make breast self-exam a habit and communicating this repeatedly to raise awareness,” said Diratian.
After all, this only takes a minute.