Relieve Breast Cancer Stress With These Healing Techniques

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Statistics show over 1 million women worldwide will be given this diagnosis over the next year. The good news is there has been tremendous improvement in the diagnosis and treatment of this illness. The bad news is that chances are you will know someone close who is battling breast cancer.

The Link between Stress and Cancer

Most women take on task after task and never equate the stress this causes with ill health. This health burnout comes from juggling family life, career and job advancement anxieties, friends and relationship problems while not allowing enough time for personal needs and relaxation. This woman is a prime candidate for a stress related major illness to occur sooner or later.

The link between increasingly taking on tasks, the stress they place on the body, the body's fatigue and breakdown of the immune system sets the stage for increase in the production of abnormal cells. The immune system is the body's natural defense against illness and contains and destroys cancer cells. A weakened immune system leaves the body at its lowest point to combat these abnormal cells. Now we have the optimal conditions for cancerous growth.

The Mind-Body Healing Connection

Of critical importance to cancer patients are the effects of emotional stress to suppress the immune system, compromising the body's natural defenses against cancer. If you are diagnosed, steps must be taken to strengthen your belief in your body's defenses in treating this cancerous growth.

Stress Relief Techniques for Healing

Learning to relax, visualization for wellness and self-help skills in nutrition and simple exercises will help you own the process of getting well. A regular relaxation routine helps reduce fear, anger, depression and the effect that tension and stress place on the body.

Exercise, any exercise, even if it's only lifting the arm or pointing the toes in a routine and repetitive daily regimen produces "feel good" endorphins which increases the feeling of well being.

Visualization is used to create mental images of the desired health outcome. It is a very focused tool used as a weapon to fight and win against disease. Below is a powerful mental imagery process devised by the Simonton Cancer Counseling and Research Center for its cancer patients:

A. Begin by Practicing a Relaxation Technique:

Sit in a quiet room. Loosen or remove all restricting clothes, shoes, belts, etc. Begin to focus on your breathing. Take several deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling slowly. Close your eyes and mentally moving from head to toe, think and relax each part of your body.
Rest.

B. Then Begin the Mental Imagery Process:

(1) Visualize the cancer cells as weak in whatever way that appears to you.
(2) Visualize treatment as a strong and powerful symbol in whatever form that symbol takes.
(3) Visualize the healthy cells and white cells invincible, able to defend the body and defeat the weak cancer cells.
(4)Visualize the dead cells being flushed from the body
(5) Visualize/imagine a picture of you healthy and energetic and fulfilling your life's purpose.

Practice three times a day for ten or fifteen minutes.

This is Your Life

Managing stress in combination with your medical treatment, are steps you can take to change the feeling of helpless victim to that of a person in charge of her life. Become an active participant in your recovery process and all medical decisions. Ask your doctor (s) plenty of questions - and seek answers. Research alternatives.

Positive reinforcement is vital to your recovery efforts. Seek out compassionate, supportive people during this process. Set goals for three months, six months and one year to increase the positive outlook that comes with having something to look forward to.

How Football Teams Are Fighting Breast Cancer in 2013

Each year in October as the world goes pink in celebration of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, people are silently wondering whether or not the pink movement really does cancer advocacy any good. In particular, has the NFL's annual pink-wearing campaign really paid off? Has it made some difference in the lives of cancer patients, survivors and potential victims?

This year, football teams have shown support for breast cancer awareness in different ways. Here are some stories:

The Arizona Cardinals hosted a Breast Cancer Survivors' Dinner on September 30. Amber Carrington from Season 4 of The Voice sang the National Anthem at the dinner. Carrington's mother passed away due to breast malignancy.

The Atlanta Falcons treated five survivors to a night of fine dining in a dinner they dubbed as the 5th Annual Dazzle and Dine event. During the singing of the national anthem, the cancer survivors held a large pink ribbon. The Falcons flag was also unfurled by the survivors and their families.

The Baltimore Ravens hosted a tribute on the football field for breast cancer survivors and patients in the community. Pink shirts were given to all the survivors. The wives, staff members and fans of the Ravens also staged the Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.

The Buffalo Bills made a ceremonial pink illumination of the Niagara Falls and also staged a pink fireworks show.

The Carolina Panthers gave away game tickets to who submitted their stories to the team's website, magazine and program. Panthers player Greg Olsen, whose mother is herself a survivor, served as honorary drummer prior to the kick-off.

The Chicago Bears printed pink shirts with the slogan "Real Bears Fans Wear Pink" and sold them for the benefit of cancer patients. Proceeds of the sale were used to deliver critical breast care services to women from low-income families.

To date, the NFL has been able to raise a total of $4.5 million for the American Cancer Society out of the proceeds from the sale of pink merchandise. Players, coaches and referees are required to wear pink uniform such as pink uniforms, pink cleats and pink football socks during the games in the month of October. All the pink merchandise are then autographed by the owners, auctioned off and the proceeds donated to breast cancer and other cancer advocacy groups.

Football fans can also take part in the pink advocacy as some NFL partners are selling pink merchandise in stadium retail stores as well as online. Again, a percentage of the profits from the sale of pink merchandise benefits breast cancer charities.

After years of coaching and cheering for his children's teams, Tim Barth founded Team Warehouse in 2004 to help bring fun stuff to sports. Specializing in funky socks and uniforms for soccer, volleyball, softball and more, TeamWarehouse.net has served over 68,000 happy customers.

What You Need To Know About Breast Cancer And Why

During the month of October, have you ever noticed all the pink ribbons everywhere that you look? Well, the reason for this is that October has been designated as Breast Cancer Awareness Month. You will find many companies and nonprofit organizations selling merchandise in pink to raise funds for cancer research and to raise public awareness about breast cancer.

One of the best defenses against breast cancer is to learn as much as you can in order to prevent it, and to learn when it is time to get screened. In most cases if breast cancer is caught at a very early stage, recovery rates are exceptionally good. On the Internet there are many sources to find information on breast cancer, but during the month of October it is really highlighted so that women will take notice and learn the things they should be looking for, all about the different options, and that breast cancer is treatable if it is caught at an early enough time.

Always make sure that you get your facts from as many reputable sources as you can, as is the case with any type of issue concerning your health. Most doctors are up on the latest research and will give you a clear picture on everything that you need to know, all the latest findings and information and anything else that is relevant in order to keep you informed and up-to-date. Knowing all the latest facts is good because it can help you share information with other women that are close to you concerning this issue. Also it can help you determine if you have any type of risk factors.

Obviously you want to make sure that you do get a mammogram on a regular basis as prescribed by your doctor, especially if there has been any incidence of breast cancer in your immediate family. You should also stay up to date on self examinations and how to check for lumps, as finding a lump early can greatly enhance your chance for success in the event that it does turn out to be cancerous.

Honestly, for a lot women it is hard to discuss the matter, however it is important for you to share this information with any women in your life and let them know how important self exams and early detection really are.

How to Get Yourself Involved in Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer awareness month is a worldwide celebration that promotes awareness, information distribution and charity events for breast cancer awareness and proceeds are being given to research, patient and other alternative breast cancer treatment.

Breast cancer is among the main reasons for death from cancer, third in line to Cancer of the lung (number one cancer killer) and Colon Cancer (second). It is alarming to know that Breast cancer is the second top most cancer killer with this year's National Cancer Institute's statistics, at the same time as the second most frequent cancer to women in the United States (next to Skin Cancer). It does not leave Men safe mainly because you will find also a large number of cases reported globally, which leaves tens of thousands of people losing their Parents, grandma and grandpa, family and friends simply because of this dreaded disease.

There are a lot of ways on how to join and make contributions. This celebration is not merely for the bereaved, but it is a celebration of life. It is for those who are diagnosed and still fighting the battle, the survivors, and for their loved ones. We all can make a difference and save lives by getting involved and making contributions through:

Spreading the word. You will find a lot of ways in spreading the message of commemorating this event, we can share stories of struggle, faith and hope from survivors, and a few heartbreaking stories of fall from the cancer diagnosed families and friends. We can also share Cancer tips for prevention, alternative treatments for breast cancer, breast examination (mammogram) benefits along with other information via blogging, writing and submitting articles, posting and sharing in social networking sites, along with other mediums like, publications, television, radio and pamphlets.

Joining events. There are a lot of events organized that would benefit those beneficiaries above. Worldwide, you will find events for example Races (walking, run and ride) like the most popular event in the United States, the sixty mile fundraising walk for the benefit of "Susan Komen for the cure" Research which is sponsored by Avon. Some organize Concert events, Fashion shows and forums.

Purchasing Breast Cancer Awareness Month Products. There are groups of people from small time entrepreneurs up to large corporations that help various events that donate the proceeds to their chosen charitable organization, cancer research center and alternative treatment center for breast cancer. From as simple as pins, t-shirts, cakes, up to watches and automobiles. You can definitely help not only by purchasing, but extending your support through wearing, displaying and patronizing these products.

Donating and/or seeking donation. You can absolutely donate any kind of amount and present them directly to the foundation and/or you can also collect donation in kind from your family members, friends, officemates, organizational mates and neighbors and extend your cause.

Visiting a treatment center for diagnosed patients. Show them love, allow them to have hope, cause them to become happy, let them recognize that there are still random people who care for them and for them that's the best alternative cancer treatment.

Making everyday a Breast cancer awareness Day. Breast cancer awareness should not merely be celebrated every October but should be everyday of the year specially if you've loved ones fighting it, cured and cleared from it and for people who died who stood up and fought until their last breath.