Health & Wellness News Navigate Breast Cancer - Consider Your Options by Melesha Bailey Unite Contributing Writer
monly diagnosed disease. Black women are diagnosed with over 34,000 new cases each year, with October is Breast an estimated 6,540 Cancer Awareness deaths expected to Month, an annual camoccur yearly. paign to bring awareIf detected early, ness to this disease there’s a 99% 5-year that affects black womsurvival rate, 80% for en in great numbers. black women versus It disproportionately 91% for white womMelesha Bailey causes more death in en. Black men get black women than whites. breast cancer too, and their Breast Cancer is one of the 5-year survival rate is 96%. most crucial issues facing Black Black women under the age women today. It is a very comof 40 have higher rates of breast
Targeting Communities of Color for COVID-19 Assistance Springfield, MO—Unite of Southwest Missouri, Inc has partnered with CPO Caring Communities, Springfield NAACP and Prosper Springfield to launch a COVID-19 resources and services outreach campaign. A grant was provided by the Community Foundation of the Ozarks, COVID-19 Response and Recovery Fund. The grant is being used to contact targeted community members to obtain names and mailing addresses of residents needing vital COVID-19 health information. African American families or individuals can sign-up for a free six month Unite News subscription now until November 2020, please contact (417) 864-7444 or email your: • Name • Mailing Address to unitepublication@yahoo.com Predomanant African American Churches or Organizations, you can get assistance with: • masks, • gloves, and or • hand sanitizer Please contact: Brooke Ash, CPO at 417-888-2020.
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cancer when compared to white women. Black women under age 35 get breast cancer at two times the rate of white women and DIE from breast cancer three times as often as white women, according to Sisters Network, a national African American Breast Cancer Survivorship Organization. Breast Cancer is not a death sentence with a focus attention on survival. Being under the care of a physician and following their advice is vital, as well as looking for alternative health care options. I believe they go hand in hand. A person must be willing to think outside of the box and be open, perhaps, to a different approach than the norm to beat this disease. Asking lots of questions is critical for a clear understanding of the prognosis, what’s going on in the body, what the options are, and why your doctor is suggesting specific choices for care. It’s going to take careful consideration for alternative methods of care. Having an open mind could make the difference between life or death. Here a few tips to reduce your risk of getting breast cancer. According to the Mayo Clinic, they suggest: 1 Limit alcohol to less than one drink per day. 2 Don’t smoke 3 Control your weight 4 Be physically active 5 Breast-feeding 6 Menopausal women should
limit the dose or duration of hormone therapy 7 Avoid exposure to radiation and environmental pollution Diet plays a crucial role in the prevention and care of breast cancer. Eating a healthy diet can reduce your risk of some cancers as well as diabetes, heart disease, obesity, and strokes. Limiting SUGAR and PROCESSED foods are the best thing you can do before, during, and after a breast cancer diagnosis. Eating plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables as part of a daily diet can lower the risk of breast cancer, according to the Susan G. Koman Foundation. A diagnosis of cancer can be terrifying. As a health and wellness coach, I can be that shoulder that will listen, encourage, and help to create a space for guidance as a person navigates the best path to their survival and prevention of breast cancer. I would love to see a person before they get sick, but if not, I can assist with dietary choices, emotional support, and provide suggestions on healthy living and lifestyle changes for restored health. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, If you or someone you know has a history with breast cancer, I will be offering Free consultations and a special Coaching package. Contact me at www.love4lifewellness.com or melesha@love4lifewellness to schedule your FREE consultation today.
