Here's the deal, this month is extremely dear to my heart, due to my personal journey to becoming a survivor of this cancer — and I'm here to encourage YOU (as women or men) to get the women in your life to the doctor!
Facts:
- A woman dies of cervical cancer every two minutes, worldwide.
- Tobacco Use and DES (Diethylstilbestrol) are risk factors for cervical cancer.
- One of the main causes of cervical cancer is the human papillomavirus (HPV), which is a common sexually transmitted infection. It does not always affect men, although they are carriers of the virus.
- It is a cancer that is often diagnosed late and the survival rate is low, due to women not going to their annual check ups.
These are just four of the hard hitting facts about this deadly cancer. Most women won't even realize they have HPV because it takes so long to develop into cancer. Cervical Cancer takes 10-15 years, on average, to do so. By this age, most women will have families and jobs and will rarely go to their doctor for annual check ups.
As a man, you should be able to create awareness for the women in your life by just being honest and open with them in discussing the facts and the preventions. It's scary to realize that one appointment can change your whole life and it could be too late by the time you get that appointment.
You can follow my Twitter Page to see facts, and updates on what I'm doing to create awareness this month.
Here's the BIG news! I've thought long and hard about what I can do to spread awareness for cervical cancer and all women's cancers and health issues. What are the top cancers affecting women?
1. BREAST CANCER
As a man, you should be able to create awareness for the women in your life by just being honest and open with them in discussing the facts and the preventions. It's scary to realize that one appointment can change your whole life and it could be too late by the time you get that appointment.
You can follow my Twitter Page to see facts, and updates on what I'm doing to create awareness this month.
Here's the BIG news! I've thought long and hard about what I can do to spread awareness for cervical cancer and all women's cancers and health issues. What are the top cancers affecting women?
1. BREAST CANCER
Risk factors:
- Age: Women 50 and older
- Family history: If a family member (grandmother, mother, sister) had breast cancer
- Breast tissue density: Women with higher breast tissue density.
- Mammography: Women should schedule a mammography every three years in their 20s and 30s and once a year when 40 and older
- Clinical breast exam: Women should have a clinical breast exam as part of their annual physica
- Self examination: Women should perform self-exams on a regular basis and report any changes to your doctor immediately
2. COLON AND RECTUM CANCER (COLORECTAL)
Risk factors:
- Age: 90 percent of cases occur over age 50
- Family history: If a family member has had colorectal cancer you are at greater risk
- Physical inactivity and obesity
- Diet high in red or processed meat
Screening:
Beginning at age 50, women who are at average risk for developing colorectal cancer should have one of the following:
- Fecal occult blood test: Have a fecal occult blood test or fecal immunochemical test once a year and a flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years
- Double-contrast barium enema: You can choose to have a doublecontrast barium enema every 5 years instead of a fecal occult blood test
- Colonoscopy: Every 10 years
3. UTERINE, OVARIAN AND CERVICAL CANCER
Risk factors:
- Estrogen replacement therapy (ERT)
- Early menstruation (before age 12)
- Late menopause
- History of infertility or never having given birth
- History of polycystic ovary syndrome
- HPV
- DES
- Smoking
Screening:
Most uterine cancer is detected at an early stage due to post-menopausal bleeding. Women should report irregular bleeding or spotting to their doctor. For women considered to be high risk, an annual screening with biopsy should begin at age 35.
All information gathered from pennmedicine.com
Therefore, after thinking about a way to promote awareness about these cancers I've decided to become a Warrior, a warrior for all women who have been diagnosed with these cancers, those who will fight these cancers, and those who will hopefully survive these cancers! That's where my idea of Warriors for Women formed, and I decided to make it my brand. Be a warrior in everything you do.
So, I'm debuting my "Warriors for Women" NAIL POLISH LINE on this blog! It's a dream that has finally been able to come true!
The colors are representative of the various women's cancer ribbons.
PINK
TEAL
NAVY
PURPLE
YELLOW
So you may have caught on that yellow is not a women's cancer ribbon color, however it is representative of pediatric cancer; and purple is representing all cancer awareness.
I am so excited for this next chapter in my life, and this project, Warriors for Women. If you want to get more information about Warriors for Women, or buying/selling this nail polish, please contact me at - georgia.fraz@gmail.com
-G
