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By the time you get done reading this, a woman will have died of breast cancer. One in eight women contract the disease during their lives and it remains the fifth largest cause of death among women. Men are also susceptible to the disease so, in this month of Breast Cancer Awareness, it’s worth taking a moment to learn what we all can do to mitigate the risks of this disease.
The outlook here actually isn’t all bad: there are specific actions that can be taken to greatly reduce the chance of contracting breast cancer. For example, studies have shown that maintaining a healthy weight, minimizing alcohol intake, and getting regular exercise gives you an excellent head start in avoiding breast cancer. The key here is to get in an overall wellness routine that also includes regular checkups from a medical professional. With early detection, the five-plus year survival rate is almost 100%!
We get regular questions about whether a cancer diagnosis would impact your decision to continue with (or begin) a massage regimen. It is recommended that you consult with your physician to determine if oncology massage is right for you. More times than not, there is no reason to discontinue massage as long as you make sure your therapist is skilled in the right techniques. Massage can also be a great option for caregivers, providing some time away to rejuvenate and restore to be fully present to assist with care.
If you have been recently diagnosed with breast cancer, know someone that has or are looking for answers to questions surrounding breast cancer, here are some great resources for you:
WI Breast Cancer Coalition: https://www.wibreastcancer.org/
American Cancer Society Wisconsin https://www.cancer.org/about-us/local/wisconsin.html
ABCD (After Breast Cancer Diagnosis) https://abcdbreastcancersupport.org/
Knowledge is power. With a strong understanding of risks, signs to watch for and healthy habits to adopt, you will arm yourself with tools to help avoid becoming a statistic.
Elements Massage – Whitefish Bay wants to be part of your personal wellness team. For questions related to oncology massage or any other massage-related topic, please come by the studio at 312 E Silver Spring in Whitefish Bay or call us at 414.376.4825.
