Hormonal Health: Upping The Wellness Stakes Of Breast Cancer

As the month of Breast Cancer awareness closes, take stock of what it represents: staying on top of your breast and hormonal health. And – obviously – not just in October.

Whether it be knowing when to book for a critical mammogram or chatting to your doctor about oestrogen dominance, owning female health issues means understanding your body better. And, of course, taking the guesswork out of when it’s time to see a specialist about something more serious. Ready to talk about your best friends? Let’s do this!

Upping The Wellness Stakes: Your Do-It-Now Check List

Self-breast exams may seem like fumbling in the dark (we understand you’re not the expert). However, they’re important because you get familiar with the normal consistency of your breast tissues.

This means that if done regularly, you can feel when something feels different. And if something feels unusual, see your expert medical doctor immediately. The best time to do your self-exam is three to five days after your menstrual cycle ends. What may follow (but these are important to schedule every two years after the age of 40) is a breast screening mammogram. These screenings are to detect possible signs of breast cancer. They differ from a diagnostic mammogram and are used to examine breast tissue.

Your doctor may recommend this type of mammogram if you are concerned about symptoms or if anything suspicious has been discovered on the screening mammogram. Apart from breast checks, hormonal imbalances play a leading role in keeping disease-free and feeling well daily.

Hormonal Health: Levelling Out Those Hormones

Oestrogen dominance is one issue that affects hormonal as well as overall health and is linked to breast cancer. Lifestyle switches and smart supplementation can help; this is where a very skilled healthcare provider can journey with you. The signs?

They may sound like simply a busy life that’s due for a holiday; however, if you’re experiencing hormonal issues like irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal pigmentation, infertility and then fatigue, hair loss, poor sleep and acne, you may want to dive deeper. After a proper diagnosis, detoxification is what your system needs, and it’s a holistic approach. Lifestyle changes often equal exercising more and working on your sleeping patterns. This is critical as getting enough sleep naturally helps your hormones balance out. Too little and you go into oestrogen overdrive. This goes hand in hand with clean eating.

Stocking your fridge with foods that help detox your body means lowering your oestrogen and feeling more alive and energetic. You want to ensure you have plenty of cruciferous vegetables (broccoli and bok choy) as well as garlic, onions, lemon, artichoke and green tea. Supplements that help include magnesium, zinc, selenium and Vitamin E.

As you’re getting more comfy and clued up with the idea of breast health and how hormones play their role, remember the amazing charities that do vital work in South Africa. Organisations like I Love Boobies nurture local women unable to access medical services due to financial, locational or social challenges. Providing free breast exams, I Love Boobies also creates awareness and support for all women keeping this disease top of mind. And that’s something we want to shout about too. A health issue that may affect half the population is too big to ignore.

Diarise your once-a-month self-breast check and get more familiar with that beautiful skin you’re in.