“I don’t have breast cancer.”
“My family doesn’t have a history of breast cancer.”
“I’m too young, I’m not at risk.”
“I would know if I had something as bad as cancer!”
The general mentality when it comes to breast cancer is of nonchalance and negligence. Women tend to turn a blind eye towards this fatal monstrosity simply because they don’t perceive an immediate danger. However, often, this very drawback is what defines “no crying over spilled milk”
According to the Cytecare Cancer Hospital, the total number of breast cancer cases in India will likely increase to 17.3 lakhs in 2020. It was also reported that every four minutes, an Indian woman, either in urban or rural India, is diagnosed with breast cancer. This is a truly worrying number as lack of awareness further adds fuel to the fire!
So, what exactly is breast cancer and why is it so dangerous?
Breast cancer is a type of cancer that starts in the breast that usually forms a tumor which can often be seen on an x-ray or felt as a lump. Breast cancers can start from different parts of the breast.
- Most breast cancers begin in the ducts that carry milk to the nipple (ductal cancers)
- Some start in the glands that make breast milk (lobular cancers)
- There are also other types of breast cancer that are less common like phyllodes tumor and angiosarcoma
- A small number of cancers start in other tissues in the breast. These cancers are called sarcoma and lymphomas and are not really thought of as breast cancers.
The truly dangerous part lies in the fact that life-saving treatment is only possible in the early stages and women often do not even know they have cancer, till it's well off into the later stages!
This is why regular screening is SO IMPORTANT.
Every year, in the month of October, institutions, and organizations jump into hyperdrive to spread awareness about this ever growing threat! While a handful of people can talk about it to a certain extent, it's important for corporates that have access to hundreds of people either through clientele or employees, to speak up and do their bit.
We’re doing our bit internally and externally!
Our social media channels are a way to reach an audience that we otherwise cannot target and to help talk about this topic we’ve done the following:
Marmeto Linkedin Page
Our Facebook page
Our Instagram page
Changed out email signatures collectively as an organization.
The power of social media today is unparalleled and our attempt may be small but even if we manage to spread the message to one person, that’s one life saved!
Hope is a very strong emotion and the fact that major corporations are starting to talk about this sensitive topic gives us hope that change is near!
We’re doing our bit.
Are you?
