Breakfast in bed, flowers, cards and
“coupon” books are just a few meaningful Mother’s Day traditions. Whether you
are a mother, future mother, your mother is
no longer here, or just a loving son
or daughter – it is a special
holiday for all. On this day we give
thanks to our mothers and remember
those who are no longer with us .
Mothers are caregivers to their
children and sometimes even their
spouses or own parents. They are
hardworking and selfless people who rarely
stop to take time for themselves. Mothers need
to take time for themselves for
their own mental wellness. We nourish our
bodies with food and water every
day, but our mental health needs to be
nourished just as much. By not taking
time for themselves, their stress levels will
increase and cause a loss of
productivity and performance. Mental Health
America, a member agency
of Community Health Charities,
suggests the following tips to help mothers
take a mental break.
- Learn to say no. If you’re overwhelmed at home or at work, be realistic with yourself and do not take on unnecessary work.
- Stop trying to be Superwoman. No one is perfect and you can’t expect it from yourself.
- Visualize. Use your imagination to picture how you would like to manage stressful situations.
- Meditate. Take at least five to ten minutes of quiet reflection. Turn off all thoughts and clear your mind.
- Exercise. Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day is proven to help the body and mind. Even a short walk on your lunch break is better than nothing.
- Share your feelings. Everyone is fighting their own battle – you don’t have to do it alone. Rely on your friends and family to provide support.
- Be flexible. Make a conscience decision to stay calm during stressful situations.
After Mom has had her mental break,
she should also be encouraged to get screened for breast, cervical and skin
cancer and other diseases
Breast
cancer fact sheet
Breast cancer is amongst
the most common cancer in women in India. Around one in 10 women will be
diagnosed with breast cancer during their lifetime. Although breast cancer can
affect all adult women, risk increases with age and the average age of first
diagnosis in women is 50 years.
Today, thanks to
developments in prevention, detection and treatment of breast cancer, and
continuing clinical trials research, more women are surviving breast cancer
long term
What is breast cancer?
The human body is made
up of cells which divide and grow in an ordered way. Cancer occurs when these
cells divide in an uncontrolled manner. Over time these cells form a lump or
“tumour”. Tumours are either benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
Breast cancer usually appears in the cells which make up breast milk glands and
most tumours start in the milk ducts. If found early, and treated promptly,
most women can go on to lead long lives.
Breast cancer risk factors:
Being a
woman
Simply because you are
female, you are at a greater risk of developing breast cancer (99% of breast
cancers occur in women).
Most women diagnosed
with breast cancer have no additional risk factors.
Your
age
As you grow older, your
risk increases. About 75% of all new breast cancers are diagnosed in women aged
50 and over, while
25% are in women under
the age of 50.
Family
history
Most women who develop
breast cancer have no family history of the disease. However, a woman’s risk
increases if she has close relatives who have had breast cancer – either on her
mother’s or father’s side – particularly if they were diagnosed underthe age of
50.
If you
have had breast cancer before
A woman who has had
breast cancer, compared with women who have never had the disease, is at an
increased risk of developing it again – either in the same breast, the other
breast, or other sites. Therefore long term follow-up is very important.
Genetics
Researchers have found
that changes or mutations to two specific genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2) substantially
increase a woman’s risk. These changes can be detected by genetic screening and
doctors can suggest treatments to delay or prevent breast cancer
from developing.
Recently, new genes associated with breast cancer have been discovered.
Oestrogen
The female hormone,
oestrogen, also has a role. Women who began menstruation early or women who
have a late menopause may be at a slightly increased risk. Women who have no
children and those who have their first child after age 30 may also be at
a slightly higher risk.
Long term Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) increases risk.
Lifestyle
If you eat a diet high
in sugars and fats and low in fresh fruit and vegetables, if you are
overweight, or if you drink too much alcohol, you may be putting yourself at
greater risk of developing breast cancer.
Being
sedentary
Research shows that women who are
physically active and maintain a healthy body weight have a lower risk of
breast cancer
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Breast Changes
It is important to be aware of the normal look and
feel of your breasts and to report any persistent breast changes promptly.
The earlier breast cancer is detected, the better the
chance of long term cure.
If you experience any of
these symptoms, particularly if they persist for several weeks, see your
doctor as soon as
possible:
A new lump or lumpiness,
especially if it is only in one breast.
A change in breast size or
shape.
A change to the nipple,
such as crusting, ulcer, redness or inversion.
Nipple discharge.
A change in the skin of the
breast such as redness or dimpling.
An unusual
pain that doesn’t go away.
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It is recommended that woman at
average risk for breast cancer receive clinical breast exams at least every
three years from age 20 to 39 and then every year beginning at age 40. Also beginning at age 40, a woman should
receive a mammogram every year. Women at
higher risk may need to get screened earlier and more frequently than
recommended above. If you know you have a higher risk, talk with your healthcare
practitioner about the best early detection plan. This could mean starting
mammograms when you are younger, having extra screening tests or having more
frequent exams. There are charts called Risk Assessment Tools that a healthcare
practitioner can use to determine if you are at higher risk.
Women
should also perform a monthly breast self-exam to look for any changes in their
breasts and see a doctor right away if they notice any swelling or lumps, skin
irritation, nipple pain or the nipple turning inward, redness or scaliness of
the nipple, or any discharge that is not breast milk. If breast changes occur,
it is best to be certain that it is not cancer.
On this day we should remember cancer when diagnose early
is curable. After all, wouldn’t "a world without breast cancer" be
the best Mother’s Day gift of all?
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