Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Did you know that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month?  I am not sure how you couldn’t know as everywhere you look you see pink! Do you know someone that has had or has breast cancer?  I bet you do! According to the Centers for Disease Control it is the #1 most common cancer among women, twice as many women get breast cancer than lung cancer which is second on the list.  The two most common risk factors for breast cancer are 1/ being female 2/ getting older.  Although men & young women can also get breast cancer, their risk is much lower.

There are many ways to be screened for breast cancer. According to the Susan G. Komen website:

1. Know your risk

• Talk to your family to learn about your family health history
• Talk to your provider about your personal risk of breast cancer

2. Get screened

• Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk
• Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
• Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40

3. Know what is normal for you
See your health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:

• Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

4. Make healthy lifestyle choices

• Maintain a healthy weight
• Add exercise into your routine
• Limit alcohol intake
• Limit postmenopausal hormone use
• Breastfeed, if you can

Did you know that dogs can also get breast cancer.  It is called a Mammary Gland Tumor and it is the most common tumor in dogs.  According to WebMD, the principal sign is a painless lump or mass. Most lumps occur in the larger glands closest to the groin. A mass may be large or small, with boundaries that are distinct or indefinite. Some lumps are freely moveable, while others adhere to the overlying skin or underlying muscle. Occasionally, the mass ulcerates the skin and bleeds. This is one more reason to get your female dog spayed as 26% of unspayed dogs get breast tumors.

There are many treatments for both people and animal breast tumors and a lot of it depends on which type of tumor that you have and how far along it is,  that is why early detection is so important.

Because Leash Your Fitness is 99.9% women and 100% of our participants have dogs, this disease is very important for us to know about! As a mammographer, I have seen women of all ages suffer from this terrible disease.  It is the worst feeling in the world to have a malignant lump and have to go through the pain and suffering of all of the steps of treatment.

We hope that you had your yearly mammogram to check for calcifications, do monthly breast self exams to feel for lumps and also check your dog often for lumps. We want our ladies and dogs to live long healthy lives together and not let some stupid cancer ruin our fun!!

Join us on October 14th at our 3rd annual breast cancer fund raiser.  This year we are Burning our Booty’s for our Boobies as we run, walk or crawl as many steps as we can at the San Diego Convention Center to help find a cure!! 100% of the proceeds from our event will go to the Susan G. Komen  for the cure.  There will be tons of really cool raffle prizes & treats to buy for both people & dogs. You can sign up today on our website!! As always dogs are welcome and so are your family and friends!! Help us reach our goal of raising $1000.00 to give to a great organization that is trying to find a cure for this horrible disease! Your sister, mom, aunt, niece, grandmother, friend, co-worker,& neighbor will

THANK YOU!!