Disclosure: This post is sponsored by Philips Healthcare. All opinions are my own.
Cancer didn’t kill my grandmother right away. Instead, it lingered for 2 years, chipping away at the quality of her life until finally it took her life altogether. My family was devastated to lose my Grandmom Elaine. Adding insult to our pain, though, was that we didn’t really know why. We didn’t understand this heartless disease, this cancer, that came in and completely disrupted our world. The cancer education and technology that we had in 2003 was no comparison to what’s available today. Back then, doctors were doing the best that they could with the resources that they had, but unfortunately, it wasn’t enough to save my grandmother. Fast forward 10 years, and companies like Philips Healthcare have been working hard to innovate in medicine in order to save lives.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness month, and although my grandmother succumbed to a different form of cancer, early detection and accessibility are key for managing any disease. In the same way that cancer didn’t run in our family before Grandmom Elaine’s diagnosis, about 70% of women diagnosed with breast cancer didn’t identify with any possible risk factors like family history or inherited gene mutations. Because of that, many women may not even recognize the need to be screened for breast cancer. Philips Healthcare understands that, and has introduced Micro Dose Mammography to make detection easier, which could potentially encourage more women to get checked for breast cancer sooner.
Micro Dose Mammography produces high quality images, even with a lower dose of radiation than administered in typical mammograms. It provides warmed, curved breast support, and is super quick. Doctors can screen a woman in about 5 minutes, or provide up to 15 examinations in an hour. Philips is taking the show on the road with their Mammography Truck Roadshow, in an effort to aid in early detection, as well as educating women on breast cancer. Philips Healthcare is also partnering with Philips Lighting to light up different landmarks to raise awareness of the disease. Check this list to see if a pink illumination will be in your city.
What can you do to raise awareness for breast cancer this month? Will you share your story of how it touched your life and encourage someone to get a mammogram? Will you get screened yourself? Philips Healthcare is providing one Mama Knows It All reader with a $75 Visa gift card for sharing how you will participate in Breast Cancer Awareness month. The contest will close on Monday, October 14th at midight EST.
I’ve been doing self exams but will talk with my physician about making sure I am doing them correctly.
Make sure my wife has all the latest tests and up to date information.
Remind friends and family how important it is to have yearly breast exams and self exams monthly.
run a charity 5k
by encouraging friends and family to have mammograms and supporting events.
encourage family members to take care.
I have my annual mammogram scheduled for next week.
Have open talks with my family about breast cancer, it runs in my family.
Get annual mammograms.
I could join the walk for Breast Cancer survivors – thank you.
Rafflecopter name Barbara Montag
I can remind all my friends to get their annual screening.
Remind everyone to do their exams when they are supposed to!! ky_grandma40@yahoo.com
I usually share articles to my social networks.
I proudly wear my pink and talk to my friends and family about doing their screenings.
get involved with charity organizations to help raise money for breast cancer
Our basketball team is involved with it the whole month of October by selling shirts.
I am sheduling my mammogram and spreading the message to friends.
I am scheduling my mammogram and spreading the message to friends.
Cancer is a beast. It is really hard to loose a loved one but even harder when you don’t understand the disease that took them away from us. Thanks for this great article & the personal attachment.
I can spread the news by putting awareness links on social media. Cancer has affected my family too, although not breast cancer.
Post on my blog and social media about Breast cancer
I can post on my social media sites about breast cancer.
I wear my fight like a girl shirt and support all fundraisers that I can. Thank you!
crystalfaulkner2000 at yahoo dot com
I tweet and share about breast cancer awareness all month long.
I wear pink in October!
I share on social networks like Facebook or twitter and take part in the Komen walk
Post media stories about breast cancer on facebook and twitter.
I wear pink and tell people about young survivors I know.
I could participate in a fund raising run.
Just by not being afraid to say the word ‘breast’. That is a start. Talking about breast cancer with our female friends and daughters is something we all must do.
I’ve had a couple of family members diagnosed with breast cancer. My mom gets screenings regularly and my OBGYN emphasizes the importance of doing self breast exams to learn of any irregularities that might occur. It’s scary, but like you said a lot has changed over the last ten years. Things have turned hopeful. This new technology sounds amazing, mammograms always sound so scary AND painful.
I can support awareness by donating to breast cancer research.
I’ll raise awareness by blogging about it. I’m sorry for your loss but I’m so glad technology is getting better.
by wearing pink
Make sure everyone I know does breast self exams (even men are supposed to check themselves).
I can support awareness by donating to the research and also by doing the Susan Komen walk
I always donate to the Susan G Koleman walk
I donate to survivors I know participating in walks and at our school we have days to wear pink and different fundraising events (right now it’s hair feathers) to help bring awareness to everyone in the school!
I’m so sorry to read about your Grandmother’s battle. We donate to cancer charities and I remind my fellow gal pals to get that yearly checkup that could save their lives.
My husbands grandmother passed from breast cancer at 48, she was so young. We raise awareness by donating, and wearing pink.
I support a person that walks in the local Susan Komen walk.
We support the Susan G. Komen foundation, go on breast cancer awareness walks and try to make sure that our friends and family get regular screening.
jweezie43[at]gmail[dot]com
I do buy “pink” products that donate to breast cancer research, also I participate in charity events
I support the Susan G Komen Foundation by purchasing pink products
support the Susan G. Komen foundation – regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com
Share personal stories!!~
I spread the word and make people aware of support by sharing the story of my grandmother and preaching about the greatness of getting tested – there’s no shame in it and you can never get tested too soon!
Buying products that support the cause,
Do fund raising garage sales.
Thanks for the chance.
mogrill12@gmail.com
My club does social events like swing for pink!
We have done fundraisers through school.
donate to breast cancer research
I love to purchase items where proceeds go to Breast Cancer research.
Donate and wear pink
One way I can help raise awareness for breast cancer is to encourage your friends and family to go to the doctor to get a breast check to rule out the possibility of having breast cancer.
check my boobies
knycks1(at)aol(dot)com
Participate in breast cancer marathons or place those pink ribbons on my vehicle
annabella @ centurytel dot net
I always donate to the Susan G Koleman walk and buy “Pink” products.
remind friends and family to do self checks
Talk to my friends about getting mammograms and doing self breast exams. Wear pink!
I can donate and encourage others to do so too!
Making sure to tell everyone I know to get a mammogram.
I can wear the ribbon and talk about it at work
I encourage people to get mammograms and support with walks!
I try to remind all women I know to do monthly self exams.I also tend to buy products that promote and donate money to breast cancer research.
Having two family members who are Breast Cancer survivors, I am always talking about the importance of mammograms and participate in any event I can , from walks, to buying items where a portion of the profits got to Breast Cancer research
I can walk in a Breast Cancer Awareness walk !!!
ktgonyea at gmail dot com
I am a nurse so I can help by teaching my patients about the importance of getting screened and doing self exams!
i can do a walk
My friends and I hold each other accountable to get a yearly mammogram
Take part in awareness programs at work
the company i work for provides insurance with free mammograms
Do a walk
i can buy pink products that support the cause and encourage my friends and family to get screened regularly
I can encourage my friends to get mammograms.
Thanks for the giveaway…cancer screening should be a part of every annual medical exam !
My mother and I love to do the walks and fundraisers.
My mom is a cancer survivor, and I’ll always donate to this worthy cause.
Charity S