Commercial Integrator + Security Sales October 2024 - 16

MAKING WAVES
Breast Cancer Awareness Month:
WAVIT's Guide to Care and Support
As we collectively turn our attention to breast cancer and its prevention this month, it's worth
remembering that we can take steps to protect ourselves and help others. By Rachael Hinds
Editor's Note: October is Breast Cancer
Awareness Month. Commercial Integrator
presents this op-ed from WAVIT as a public
service in hopes of encouraging the women
and men in our industry not only to care for
themselves and take preventative action but
also to support others who are suffering from
breast cancer.
AS WE ENTER the month of
October, we turn our focus and care
to Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
So, what does that look like exactly?
We are focusing on and celebrating
the brave four million-plus survivors who
have either completed treatment or are
currently undergoing treatment during
this immense, painful and unthinkable
adversity.
Sadly, we are also focusing on and fighting
the 310,720 new diagnoses of invasive
breast cancer that individuals have had
endure in 2024. We are focusing on and
mourning the loss of about 42,250 women
who will lose their lives to breast cancer
this year (statistics from the American
Cancer Society).
We're also focusing on and acknowledging
the fact that Black women are more
likely to die from breast cancer than any
other race or ethnic group is. It's likewise
important to note that 1% of all breast cancer
cases occur in men. While breast cancer
in men is rarer, it can often be diagnosed
later and result in higher mortality rates.
October is, most of all, a time to take all
possible measures to prevent breast cancer.
Taking care of and advocating for those
impacted is essential, but so, too, is taking
self-care measures. Preventative healthcare
is life-saving healthcare for many. Taking
the right actions can truly make all the
difference when it comes to lowering your
risk and becoming aware of symptoms.
We acknowledge and mourn the loss of about 42,250 women who will lose their lives
to breast cancer this year (statistics from the American Cancer Society).
Learn and Understand
Breast Cancer Risk Factors
Unfortunately, we still don't completely
understand the cause of breast cancer.
Some risk factors, such as old age and
family history, are completely out of
your control. However, there's power
in knowing the risk factors that we can
actively manage. What follows are some
great lifestyle changes that, according to
Advocate Health, may help:
1. Maintain a healthy weight.
2. Eat a healthy diet full of fruits,
vegetables and whole grains, with less
processed foods, fatty foods and red
meat.
3. Exercise consistently; exercising
about four to seven hours a week is
recommended.
4. Limit alcohol intake and stop smoking
entirely.
5. Watch for any increased estrogen
exposure (common with hormone
replacement therapy).
16 Commercial Integrator+Security Sales & Integration | October 2024
Take Part in Prevention Programs
One of the most important aspects of
Breast Cancer Awareness Month is sharing
just how important it is for people to take
preventative action.
Although these measures don't prevent
cancer altogether, many can be crucial
to catching the disease while it is at an
earlier and more treatable stage. What
follows are the two most common ways
to take preventative action against breast
cancer:
Mammograms: This is one of the
most important tools we have in the fight
against breast cancer. By taking an X-ray
of the breast, doctors can detect breast
cancer, as well as any other abnormalities
present. Mammograms are essential
because they can find cancer before it has
gotten big enough to feel. That means it
would be at its most treatable stage. Also,
a mammogram is currently the only test
that is affirmatively proven to reduce
breast cancer deaths.
LITTLEWHALE/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

Commercial Integrator + Security Sales October 2024

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