October is Breast Cancer Awareness month and I’ve got a few tips everyone could do to raise awareness for themselves and for their loved ones.
1. Understand your family history. Talk to members in the family about breast cancer. Just because your mother has breast cancer, it doesn’t mean that you will get it too. The risk of inherited breast cancer is low at around 5%-10% of all cases (information taken from NZBCF website). However, if your mother or sister has had breast cancer before the age of 40, it’s recommended you get screened annually from the age of 30. Check with your family doctor for more information if you are concerned.
2. Go for a screening mammogram. In New Zealand, breast screening for people under the age of 45 will cost you around $100 – $180 (private clinics), and it is free for women aged 46-69 (some conditions apply – check out the NZBCF website for more information).
3. Ask your family doctor. Ask your family doctor to check for you if you are unsure of what lumps feels like. Your family doctor should have more information brochures to give you.
4. Self checking – #OOroutine. With regular self-checks, you will notice the changes in the look and feel of your breasts immediately. Add a new procedure to your daily beauty routine by adding a breast cream after a shower. I have been using this Breast Cream created by Skinfood and the New Zealand Breast Cancer Foundation (NZBCF) to raise awareness of breast cancer. This breast cream is the latest addition to your beauty routine that could save your life!
NZBCF x Skinfood Breast Cream
Skinfood donates $2 for every tube of this breast cream sold to NZBCF to help with education, innovative research and support for women with breast cancer. This cream smells amazing and is super moisturising! Contains Manuka honey to boosts skin renewal, coconut to repair, hydrate and nourish, Avocado oil to moisturise, Macademia nut oil is great for stretch marks, and mango and cocoa butter to help against sun damage and clearing blemishes.
To use: After a nice shower, stand in front of the mirror and apply about a 10 cent coin piece for both breasts with massaging motions to check for lumps and changes to the breasts. Each box comes with a detailed leaflet on the signs and symptoms to look for.
NZBCF x Skinfood Breast Cream
This cream is available from Countdown, Pak’n Save, New World, The Warehouse and Skinfood website for $11.99 throughout the month of October. Just look out for the beautiful hot pink box! Grab a tube for yourself, your mum, your sisters, your girlfriends, etc. and start adding this new beauty routine that could save their lives!
Do you have any tips for breast cancer awareness? Please share them with us!
Follow NZBCF on twitter – @NZBCF
