As the leaves change color and the air feels crisp, another major transformation unfolds every year in October – the world turns pink. Not fashion-wise or as a seasonal trend, it does so to symbolize unity, hope, and awareness.
October marks Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a crucial time when communities come together and foster understanding around breast cancer, promote early detection, support survivors, and remember those lost.
Breast Cancer: A Statistical Overview
Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide, especially in American women. There are no specific risk factors other than age, sex, damaged DNA, and/or any injury. It can also affect about 0.5–1% of men.
In less developed nations, breast cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths. In 2020, nearly 2.3 million women worldwide were diagnosed with breast cancer, of which 685,000 deaths were reported. Over the years, breast cancer incidence and mortality rates have increased significantly.
Awareness Matters
The origin of the pink ribbon (symbolizing breast cancer awareness) began as a collaborative effort among charities, healthcare organizations, and corporations to promote mammography for battling breast cancer. With time, the initiative grew into a global movement to end the stigma and silence around this disease.
Spreading awareness around breast cancer serves several important purposes. It promotes early detection upon noticing any signs such as:
● A lump in the underarm or breast that doesn't seem to go away
● Swelling starting from the collarbone and spreading to the armpit, breast, and ribs
● Thickening in some parts of the breast
● Flaky or crusty nipple skin
It also empowers those fighting this heart-wrenching journey. Furthermore, the money raised throughout this month goes into funding research, continuously aiming to find a cure.
Harnessing Ancient Healing Methods
Breast cancer is a global health concern. Thus, it's crucial to explore every treatment avenue for those affected.
Notably, acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) are emerging as promising supplementary therapies. The raft of benefits of these healing therapies include:
● Decreasing inflammation
● Managing stress
● Helping reduce night sweats and hot flashes
● Providing relief from chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting
● Augmenting platelet counts dipping during chemotherapy
● Promoting peripheral blood flow and minimizing chemotherapy induced neuropathy
Leading the charge in this domain is our seasoned practitioner, Jenny Crissman.
With a career in integrative care dating back to the 1980s, Jenny's dedication to improving patient quality of life has been unwavering. Seamlessly blending age-old wisdom with the advancements of modern science, Jenny offers a refreshing take on healing and well-being in Oakland.
Her multifaceted approach has helped numerous people address breast cancer's physical, emotional, and psychological struggles. Jenny has 18 years of hands-on acupuncture experience and over three decades dedicated to guiding people through their healing paths.
All her patients receive a tailored treatment of well-being, integrating nutritional advice, lifestyle and supprtive strategies. At the core, she works to cultivate wellness, combining ancient Chinese medicine with modern functional medicine, persistent self-care, and patient enlightenment.
As Breast Cancer Awareness Month encourages us to reflect and act, it's reassuring to know that professionals like Jenny Crissman in Oakland are pioneering a blend of traditional and innovative approaches to optimize patient outcomes.
Final Thoughts
Breast cancer is a reminder of a collective effort to defeat this formidable adversary. Remember, no matter how small, every action can make a difference. Show respect, share stories, donate to charities, and prioritize regular checkups to stay on top of your health goals. If you'd like to explore more about alternative treatments like acupuncture for cancer, book an appointment to get started.