What You Need to be Aware of During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

By Vera Viner

As most women know, October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This annual campaign began in 1985 when the American Cancer Society partnered with the pharmaceutical division of Imperial Chemical Industries to promote mammography as the best tool we have to fight breast cancer.

Ever since the beginning, breast cancer awareness has been about early diagnosis, mammography, and treating the disease before it spreads or metastasizes throughout the rest of the body. However, none of this actually prevents the disease.

When it comes to breast cancer, are you aware of the existence of the preventive breast cancer vaccine developed by Dr. Vincent Tuohy and his team at the Cleveland Clinic? Are you aware that we have finally gathered enough funds to start Phase I clinical trials on this vaccine once the FDA gives us the green light?

Also, are you aware that nearly 40 percent of human breast cancers may be linked to the mammary tumor virus? These are the things that Breast Cancer Awareness Month needs to be about.

We need to focus on keeping women from having to go through the pain associated with breast cancer treatment. Radiation, chemotherapy, and surgery are known as “slash, burn, and poison” for a reason. These treatments provide various negative side effects and we should ensure that women no longer have to face the tragedies associated with breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month needs to keep women aware of how to stay healthy as well as take part in early diagnosis (yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and monthly self-exams). We need to encourage all females – from young girls to elderly women – to exercise for at least 30 minutes four times per week and eat a plant-based diet full of whole grains, fish, low-fat dairy, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Along with diet and exercise, there are some things to avoid such as hormone replacement therapy, excessive drinking, smoking cigarettes, and oral contraceptives. You may want to read this site to learn about some of the dangers of the birth control pill. We at the Breast Health and Healing Foundation wish to provide this imperative information during Breast Cancer Awareness Month so that women are truly aware of how to prevent this disease and learn about the scientific progress surrounding breast cancer prevention.