Breast Cancer Awareness

What all young women must know this monthby Tahira Rhame.During October, breast cancer awareness month, Kafi Weekes, a CCNY senior, is extra cautious. Two of her aunts have been diagnosed with the disease.  “Breast Cancer runs in my family,” says Weekes, 21. “I have a high risk of getting it. When I get older I have to continuously get mammograms to make sure I do not have it. It worries me sometimes to know I have a high risk of getting it.”Though breast cancer most often strikes women over 40, young women can contract it too, especially if the disease runs in the family. Breastcancer.org says, “that a breast self examination (BSE) can be an important way find breast cancer in young women, especially young women with a higher-than-average risk of developing breast cancer."According to breastcancerawareness.com, “In the United States, breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in women.”  Every 2 minutes a new breast cancer diagnosis is made and every 14 minutes, breast cancer claims a life. To prevent and decrease rates, it's important to diagnose breast cancer in its earliest stages, so it can be treated.WebMD says, “Younger women generally do not consider themselves to be at risk for breast cancer.  Less than 10 percent of all cases occur in women under 40 years old. However, breast cancer can strike at any age, and women of every age should be aware of their personal risk factors for breast cancer.Black women should pay extra attention to the disease. According to breastcancer.org white women are more likely to develop breast cancer, but African American women die from it more often. The reason? Studies show that African-American women tend to have more aggressive tumors.Some risk factors you cannot change such as race, being a woman, genetics and your age. So to reduce the chance of getting breast cancer, follow this advice offered by breastcancerawarness.com:Watch for breast changes. Do breast self exams regularly and note any changes that occur in your breasts such as lumps, color, and texture. Report these to your medical provider.Eat healthy foods. Maintain a healthy lifestyle and eat nutritious foods. Stay away from fried foods and eat more fruits and vegetables. Being obese and overweight can raise your likelihood of getting breast cancer.No Smoking. Studies have shown that smoking may also boost your probability of developing breast cancer along with many other cancers.Exercise as much as you can. The American Cancer Society suggests that exercising for 45- 60 minutes for 5 or more days a week can help reduce chances of getting breast cancer.Limit alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol consumption can increase your chances of getting breast cancer. Young women should be careful of their alcohol consumption because it could do harm later in life.Limit exposure to chemicals. Stay away from toxic substances, including pesticides whenever you can.CCNY senior Tiffany Valentin pays tribute to her family during breast cancer awareness month. She says her grandmother, aunt and even an uncle have all had breast cancer. “It has been difficult to see them go through it. It hurts and I am happy to still have them in my life,” she says.