October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, also known as Pinktober. We would be hard pressed to find someone who hasn't been affected , personally, with a close friend or family member. While more people are surviving a breast cancer diagnosis than ever before, breast cancer is the most common cancer and the second leading cause of cancer death among Canadian women.
Get comfortable with your breasts! Breast massage and breast self examinations allows you to familiarize yourself with how your breasts look or feel so that you can be aware of any changes.
While most women wear bras for support, wearing a bra interferes with lymphatic drainage from the breasts, resulting in fluid accumulation. Breast massage helps to stimulate lymphatic drainage and support breast health.
There are many resources available for you for education and support:
The Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation is dedicated to increasing cancer survivorship in Eastern Ontario. by supporting cancer care and research to prevent, detect, diagnose and cure cancer.
Rethink Cancer is a young women’s breast cancer movement that educates, empowers and advocates for people worldwide who are affected by breast cancer through boldfaced campaigns, content, programs and resources.
The CURE Foundation has been powering the fight against breast cancer by investing in programs for prevention and early detection, improving treatment and supporting patients and their families.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Network (CBCN) is Canada's only patient-directed national breast cancer health charity that strives to voice the views and concerns of breast cancer patients through education, advocacy activities, and the promotion of information sharing.
The Canadian Cancer Society website offers resource to learn about breast cancer prevention and how to reduce the risk of breast cancer.
Ottawa Integrative Cancer Centre offers a wide array of integrative care services to people at any stage of their cancer journey.