October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Here at Plant Therapy, you know how much we love our customers. We love you all so much that we can’t help but bring up something so very, very important: breast cancer. And since October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we wanted to take a moment during this worldwide annual campaign to provide all of you with a little information the subject and a whole lot of encouragement to perform regular self-checks.
Breast cancer is most commonly diagnosed cancer in women, with one in eight women here in the U.S. being diagnosed in their lifetime. It’s estimated that each year more than 252,710 U.S. women will be diagnosed and about 40,500 will sadly lose their battle.
Breast Cancer doesn’t just affect women!
Men can also develop breast cancer, though it is significantly less common. Every year an estimated 2,470 men are diagnosed and approximately 460 will lose their lives to it. Mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, friends, coworkers, mentors — no matter your age, race, or ethnic group, breast cancer does not discriminate.
Of course, this is very sobering information. And although breast cancer cannot be prevented, there are steps we can all take to help ourselves detect signs as soon as possible. The earlier we begin receiving the care needed to treat breast cancer, the more likely we will be to survive it. Today, there are more than 3.3 million breast cancer survivors in the U.S and these strong and resilient women and men prove that this is most definitely a winnable battle.
So, what can you do, starting today, that may very truly save your life?
Self-checks need to become a part of your monthly routine; it only takes a few minutes and is a simple way to discover lumps, changes in breast tissue, or other abnormalities. You just cannot wait until your yearly exam to be screened for breast cancer; performing monthly self-checks can alert you to changes in your breast tissue that you wouldn’t have noticed otherwise. Time matters when it comes to cancer treatment.
If you’re ready to start performing self-checks, or you already do so, you may enjoy incorporating your favorite carrier oils and essential oils into the process. We hope you enjoy this blend of wonderfully relaxing and uplifting essential oils, along with our suggestion of the Marvelous Massage Carrier Oil, to help make your self-checks a more comfortable experience.
Relaxing Self-Check Master Blend
What you’ll need:
- 12 drops Yuzu
- 9 drops Ho Wood
- 9 drops Orange Sweet
- 6 drops Cedarwood Atlas
What you’ll do:
Dilute the Master Blend to 1-2% in the carrier oil of your choice (our Marvelous Massage Carrier Oil would be ideal). To perform a breast self-check, begin by lying down. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast in circular motions with varying degrees of pressure. Cover the entire breast area, nipple, and armpit. Repeat these steps for your left breast. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your healthcare provider.
*Statistics provided by nationalbreastcancer.org.
For more information on breast cancer and performing self-checks, please make sure to visit one of these sites:
What a great reminder.. and this sounds like such a lovely blend! Must add to my “must make” list!
Love PT, so glad to see them supporting breast cancer awareness. Thank you so much!
Thank you for the reminder of self checks! Such an important topic. Thanks also for discounts and donating. This proves what a great company Plant Therapy is!
Thank you for raising awareness and advocating self checks – this is such an important reminder!
I love the idea, but I don’t love Komen. I am a survivor and have found other groups who use their money more wisely.
Jordan, thank you so much for sharing your feedback with us, this is something we take very seriously. We chose this organization because it has a local chapter, allowing us to have a local impact with a national organization.
This is so absolutely wonderful. Thank you for this recipe.
One more reason why I continue to support this company. Discounts for customers and donations to great charities/foundations.
This is amazing! Yall ..are awesome!!!
Is there any substitute for Ho wood?
Winnie, you could try Sandalwood for a sub 🙂
This post is a great reminder! Thank you for promoting self checks and even providing information on how to do it properly! Love that PT gives back to such a great cause
<3
Thank you for donating!!!
I love this idea, and the financial support this company puts behind wonderful causes! I am currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer and can’t use oils, but will save this recipe for when I can. I am so grateful for the deals you offer to support causes, but for those of us currently undergoing treatment, I would offer the suggestion that next year consider adding the red/pink/purple hydrosols to the promotion since many of us undergoing cancer treatment can use hydrosols and find them soothing and a way to stay in the oily community during this difficult time. <3
Thank you so much for your feedback Erin! I will be more than happy to pass along your helpful suggestion! We have you in our thoughts and prayers <3
Love how your company gives back! This would also be a wonderful promotion with a BYOS!
I don’t have Yuzu but love all these other oils so I may need to try it! This sounds great and the charitable nature of Plant Therapy is one of the reasons I love it!
This is great! way to support such a great cause. My mother had breast cancer and had a partial mastectomy when I was just 15. Sje passed away in 2012 feom lung cancet. A very good friend of mine had a double mastectomy 2 years ago and just Found out her cancer may have returned as she found some lumps in her armpit. I just ordered her a couple precious oils as a gift on saturday with the help of my perqs points and now wish I would be waited for this sale as the one oil she really wanted (rose absolute) is included. Bummer.
Love this idea and suggestion. Love that it’s a way to give back.
Thank you for highlighting such an important topic. Always a good reminder to do self checks! Love how you give back so generously to great causes!
I love how much Plant Therapy cares, and gives back! PT is truly a wonderful company.
Thank you. Is there a substitute for Yuzu?
A good substitute would be another citrus oil: Tangerine, Mandarin, Lime etc..
Breast Cancer Awareness blog what a great way to start the month. Thank you for highlighting this great cause, and also for the donation to breast cancer research.