Pink Hijab-October breast cancer awareness month

by Stokes County Family Health Center

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Each year, October is dedicated to increasing awareness about the importance of early detection of breast cancer, celebrating the lives of the many women who survived, and remembering those lost.

Muslim Elegance offers Ready to Wear Bridal & Party Hijabs in your favorite color this month Pink is the color.

Breast cancer remains the most frequently occurring cancer in women and is the second leading cause of cancer deaths of North Carolina women. The N.C. Central Cancer Registry projects that over 9,000 women in North Carolina will be diagnosed with and over 1,000 will die from breast cancer. It is more important than ever that we spread the message that early detection and prompt treatment of breast cancer saves lives. Ninety-six percent of women who find and treat breast cancer early will be cancer-free after five years.

We encourage all women to take charge of their health by going for regular breast screenings. Breast screenings check a woman’s breasts for cancer before noticeable signs or symptoms are present. There are three main tests used to screen for breast cancer:

• Breast self-exam is when you check your own breasts for lumps, swelling, changes in size or shape of the breast, and any other changes in the breast or underarm.

• Clinical breast exam is a breast exam by a doctor or nurse, who uses his or her hands to carefully feel for lumps or other changes in the entire breast area.

• Mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. Mammograms are the best method to detect breast cancer early when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause other symptoms.

We urge every woman to talk with their health care provider about which screenings are right for them.