Painting the Town Pink – Celebrating Breast Cancer Survivors

Photos: Urban News

by Johnnie Grant

The spirit of awareness for those fighting cancer and those fighting for the cause spreads well past the city limits and throughout Western North Carolina.

Women and men converged on Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville to celebrate the lives of breast cancer survuvors. The event was held by Mission Health System and Asheville Citizen-Times.

Dozens of organizations and businesses turn pink to symbolize the fight
against breast cancer, and to raise awareness for the cause during the
month of October – Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

Over the years, many local businesses in the region have found their own
ways to support Breast Cancer Awareness. During October 2011, the Urban
News, along with other businesses, come together to help support the
cause, and the mothers, sisters, wives, cousins, husbands, and brothers,
affected by cancer every year.

An early breast cancer detection plan should include:

• Beginning at age 20 – performing breast self-exams and looking for any signs of change

• Age 20 to 39 – scheduling clinical breast exams every three years

• By the age of 40 – having a baseline mammogram and annual clinical breast exams

• Ages 40 to 49 – having a mammogram every one to two years depending on previous findings

• Ages 50 and older – having a mammogram every year

• All Ages:

– Recording personal exams, mammograms and doctors’ appointments on a calendar or in a detailed file

— Maintaining a healthy weight, following a low-fat diet, getting
regular exercise, quitting smoking, and reducing alcohol consumption

Common signs and symptoms of breast cancer include:

• A change in how the breast or nipple feels

• You may experience nipple tenderness or notice a lump or thickening in or near the breast or in the underarm area

• A change in how the breast or nipple looks

• This could mean a change in the size or shape of the breast or a
nipple that is turned slightly inward. In addition, the skin of the
breast, areola or nipple may appear scaly, red or swollen or may have
ridges or pitting that resembles the skin of an orange.

• Nipple discharge

Generally, early breast cancer does not cause pain. Even so, a person
should see their health care provider about breast pain or any other
breast symptoms that do not go away.