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| Photo: Getty Images/Neo Vision |
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October
A sparkling smile does more than turn heads—it indicates good health. Brush, floss, and schedule a six-month checkup.
The cure is in the cause. The American Cancer Society estimated that in 2006, 212,920 women were expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer, and 40,970 women were expected to die from the disease. Additionally, an estimated 1,720 men were expected to be diagnosed and 460 were expected to die from breast cancer. Although Hispanic women are less likely to develop breast cancer, they are also much less likely to find it early, and are 20 percent more likely to die from the disease. So far, early detection is the most effective way we have of beating breast cancer—the five-year survival rate with early detection is close to 95 percent. But many Hispanic women still aren’t getting screened. In fact, only 38 percent of Hispanic women 40 years and older have regular mammograms, according to the Intercultural Cancer Council. Early detection is our best defense, but it can’t prevent breast cancer, which has been rising steadily in the United States and other industrialized countries since the 1940s. The risk of getting breast cancer has nearly tripled in the past four decades, according to the Breast Cancer Fund and Breast Cancer Action. The exact causes for this dramatic rise are still being investigated. While genetic predisposal and behavioral factors such as drinking, smoking, or delaying childbirth could account for up to half of all cases, some research, including recent studies by the two organizations, suggests that environmental factors may also play an important part. Although the research isn’t conclusive, it can’t hurt to learn more about what you are putting into your body (including the air you’re breathing), onto your skin, and what’s in the cleaners you use around your house. Many of these contain known carcinogens (cancer-causing agents). Take your life into your own hands. Find out for yourself what you can do to prevent breast cancer at home, in your community, and in the world. If you or someone you love hasn’t had a mammogram or a clinical breast exam this year, go to your doctor or find out where free screenings are being offered in your area. Go in with a friend or family member to make the experience less scary and uncomfortable. And most importantly, get to know your breasts and learn to do a breast self-exam. Then teach your friends, sister, mother, aunts, and cousins. You and they are worth it!
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Additional Resources: Breathe easy! Watch your breath. Without any effort on your part, your lungs are filling and emptying themselves over and over again, bringing life-giving oxygen to every cell in your body. Most of the time, we’re completely unaware of this process. But for more than 30 million Americans living with lung diseases, including lung cancer, emphysema, asthma, and chronic bronchitis, breathing has become very hard work. The leading cause of lung disease is smoking. This is a concern, particularly among Hispanic men. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about a quarter of Hispanic men smoke, and about 15 percent of Hispanic women do. The second leading cause of lung disease is air pollution. According to a study by the American Lung Association, Hispanics are more likely to live in areas with higher levels of air pollution. The association encourages you to get involved in the fight to improve air quality. Learn about the air quality in your community and let your congressperson know it’s an issue that’s important to you. Besides improving air quality, there are a few simple things you can do to keep your lungs healthy as you get older, according to the American Association for Respiratory Care: Stop smoking. Get an annual flu shot and pneumonia vaccine. Eat right, drink plenty of water, and exercise.
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Additional Resources: National Lupus Awareness Month If we’re not silent, it’s not deadly. Speak up and save Latina lives. Approximately 1.5 million Americans have some form of lupus, according to the Lupus Foundation of America. Many who have the disease don’t even know it. Lupus is more common than multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, leukemia, and other well-known diseases, yet it remains largely unknown. Education and awareness are especially important in the Hispanic community. According to an ongoing NIH study, LUMINA (Lupus in Minorities: Nature versus Nurture), which began in 1993, Hispanics and African Americans, especially women, tend to develop lupus at a higher rate and have more serious complications and higher mortality rates as a result of the disease. Lupus is a chronic disorder that causes the body’s immune system to attack its own healthy tissues and organs. Although lupus can strike men and women of all ages, 90 percent of individuals diagnosed are women. Most will develop the disease before they reach the age of 45. The symptoms often mimic other illnesses, masking the seriousness of the disease. Increased awareness and improved diagnostic techniques mean lupus is being found and treated earlier, before irreversible tissue damage occurs. There is still more work to be done. This month, do your part to raise awareness about lupus. Learn about the disease and its symptoms.
Updated: October 2006 These links are provided for informational purposes only. AARP does not endorse, and has no control over, or responsibility for, the linked sites or the content, advertisements, materials, products, or services available on or throughout these sites. |
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