October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Here, at Victoria Landing, we wanted to take the opportunity to talk about three ways you can prevent breast cancer. Don’t live in fear of it. Approach it proactively. While you can’t necessarily prevent it, you certainly do not need to roll out the red carpet for it to make an appearance!
Let’s dive deeper into three specific ways you, as a senior, can prevent breast cancer. A healthy social life, physical activity, and regular doctor appointments and cancer screenings are three important tools to have in your arsenal. It’s up to you to apply them to your daily life.
Breast Cancer Awareness Month began in 1985. It was formed with the intention of bringing awareness to breast cancer, promoting early detection, and promoting mammograms as a way to fight breast cancer. Too many women were dying of a disease that could be fought proactively, particularly if caught in the early stages. So, what can you do to arm yourself against this disease and maybe even hold it at bay?
A Healthy Social Life Can Help Prevent Breast Cancer
According to a journal article posted by the Gerontological Society of America, breast cancer is the leading cancer occurring in female senior citizens. This same journal article cites that social connectedness may affect biological pathways involved in cell aging and cancer development. Victoria Landing is acutely aware of the need for social interactions in maintaining the health of our residents. It not only encourages mental and emotional health, but as you can see from the journal article, it can affect physical well-being also.
Victoria Landing offers an incredible variety of social activities for its residents. We have a lovely dining room that will make you feel like you are eating in a restaurant every night! This provides a great opportunity to socialize over a delicious meal. But, that is just the start. We offer activities such as Bunko, Drama Club, afternoon tea, karaoke, trivia, and happy hour just to name a few! If you are bored at Victoria Landing, then you must not have ever left your room! Victoria Landing is truly senior living at its best.
Physical Activity Can Help Prevent Breast Cancer
According to the American Cancer Society, there are many studies showing that an increase in physical activity can lower your risk of breast cancer. While the cause-and-effect relationship between this correlation is not yet fully understood, it is thought that it could have to do with physical activity balancing hormones and insulin.
There is no magic formula for how much you should exercise or how many minutes or hours a day you should be active, but a consistent, healthy, physical lifestyle can possibly reduce your risk of breast cancer.
Being a resident of Victoria Landing affords you many wonderful opportunities to engage in physical activity. You don’t have to be a marathon runner to engage in simple, healthy activities! We have an on-site fitness center for our residents. We have lovely walking trails. We offer Gardening Club and Friday Fishing. We also offer Chair Aerobics and Chair Yoga! Staying physically active is easier when you have friends to do it with, and at Victoria Landing, you are surrounded by friends.
Regular Doctor Visits and Cancer Screenings Can Help Prevent Breast Cancer
One of the main purposes of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is to help women understand the importance of regular doctor visits and cancer screenings. Every woman knows that there is nothing fun about a mammogram. However, having your breast squished by a machine in order to get images is a momentary discomfort that can catch breast cancer before it begins! Mammogram images can sometimes spot pre-cancerous lesions giving you and your doctor the chance to rid your body of them, and preventing breast cancer from occurring. If you ever feel a lump in your breast, do not wait for your next mammogram. Make an appointment with your doctor immediately.
Even if you no longer drive, you do not need to worry. Victoria Landing offers multiple opportunities weekly for rides to doctor appointments. Don’t neglect your health simply because you no longer have a driver’s license!
Victoria Landing Believes in Fighting Breast Cancer
As you make your way through October, please remember the importance of breast cancer prevention. We know many of you reading this will have been touched by breast cancer in one way or another in your life. Be proactive – be social, stay active, and go to your yearly doctor visits and mammograms. Victoria Landing is proud to offer a senior living community to the Melbourne, FL area that offers everything you need to enjoy an active, healthy life. Being a senior does NOT have to be boring!
