A Fitness center here is encouraging women to do self-exams and is offering discounts to local women who receive mammograms or support the fight against breast cancer.
Research has shown that women who have regular mammograms are more likely to survive breast cancer, and that the cancers detected are on average smaller and more treatable, according to the Canadian Cancer Association. Many cases of breast cancer are being detected and treated early, which contributes to the reason why cancer-diagnosed women are alive and well today.
Curves’ locations, including the one at 105 Queen Street W, Unit 11 in Fergus, are encouraging women to get annual mammograms and perform monthly breast self-exams during Breast Cancer Awareness Month this October. Women who have had a mammogram taken within the last six months, or make a $25 donation to the Canadian Cancer Society or the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation will be waived from paying a service fee when they join Curves during the week of October 17 to 24. Participating Curves locations will also make available a unique home self breast-exam kit called the Liv Aid, which makes the self breast-exam process more sensitive for detecting unusual lumps. For every Liv Aid kit sold, Curves will donate one to another woman who cannot afford one.
"Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women worldwide, and Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a perfect opportunity for us to emphasize ways of prevention," said Genevieve Oliver, of the Fergus Curves. "Not only are we rewarding women for having mammograms and encouraging them to perform breast-exams, we are also educating women about the disease and how they can significantly reduce their risk through diet and exercise."
Based on recent information released about breast cancer, Oliver has provided the following advice regarding self breast-exams:
How can women exercise good breast health?
Most women who think of screening for breast cancer think of mammograms, but there are three ways to screen for breast cancer: mammography, clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional, and self breast-exams. When combined, they offer the best opportunity to detect the disease at its earliest, most treatable stages.
How important is early detection?
Early detection means the availability of more treatment options. More than 95% of women whose breast cancer is caught in its earliest stages are more likely to be healthy and disease-free five years after their diagnosis and treatment.
How important are self breast-exams?
Self breast-exams catch a significant number of breast cancers, some 15 to 20%, that otherwise might have gone undetected for possibly up to a year between doctor visits. About 80% of breast cancers not discovered by mammography are found by women themselves. Through self breast exams, women are in a position to detect subtle changes in their breast tissue.
Recent research linked obesity and excess weight with an increased risk for various cancers, including breast cancer. According to Oliver, Curves has been a long-committed partner in the fight against cancer, raising millions of dollars annually for research, treatment, and recovery programs. The company has helped millions of women around the world lose millions of pounds and move away from all types of diseases.
"When women understand that one-third of all breast cancer can be related to lack of exercise and poor diet, they’ll see that they have the opportunity to have much more control over their cancer risk," Oliver said. "We want to encourage women to learn more about the impact wellness has on preventing cancer. Carrying too much body fat increases your risk for developing multiple cancers by 23% breast, 35% colon, 52% esophageal, 36% gallbladder, 36% gastric, 43% kidney, 27% pancreatic, and 57% uterine.”
For more information about Curves or to take advantage of zero service fee when joining Oct. 17 to 24 contact Oliver at 519-787-8555.
