Everyone Loves Quitters

Most people I know tried smoking at least once. Some people got addicted right away and I know from experience it is not very easy to get over it. I fell off the wagon several times, but have been now smoke-free since 1998. Give it another try, today could be the first day of the rest of your smoke-free life!!

Today is the 37th annual Great American Smokeout – a day when the American Cancer Society and others encourage us, our friends, and our family members “to make a plan to quit, or to plan in advance and quit smoking that day. By quitting — even for one day — smokers will be taking an important step towards a healthier life– one that can lead to reducing cancer risk.”

The American Cancer Society says: “Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of disease and premature death in the US, yet about 43.8 million Americans still smoke cigarettes — Nearly 1 in every 5 adults. As of 2010, there were also 13.2 million cigar smokers in the US, and 2.2 million who smoke tobacco in pipes — other dangerous and addictive forms of tobacco.”

We all know that it’s hard to quit smoking, but it gets easier with support from others.Call the American Cancer Society at 1-800-227-2345 to learn more about how to quit smoking. Here are some of their helpful tips:

• Guide to Quitting Smoking
• What are the Benefits of Quitting?
• Desktop Helpers
• Resources and Tools
• Cigarette Cost Calculator
• QUIZ: Do You Need Help Quitting?
• JOIN: E-Quit Smoking Cessation Study
• Fight Back Against Tobacco

Also check out SmokeFree.gov to see their smokefree resources and daily challenges.

Every Month Should Be Breast Health Month

As you may know, last month was Breast Cancer Awareness Month. But unfortunately, breast cancer can appear any time of year. That's why it's important to do a self breast exam every month, especially as an LBTQ woman. Here is a great cartoon about the importance of regular self-breast exams!

 

 

As Mo reminds Harriet, it's especially important for you as an LBTQ woman to be conscious of your breast health. Women who have not given birth before the age of 30 are at a higher risk for breast cancer, as are smokers, heavy drinkers, and women who are overweight. Having to come out to doctors and other health care providers can be a challenge, but it is important to find a doctor you feel comfortable with-- for women over the age of 40 it is recommended to have a mammogram every two years, while women who are 50 or older and/or have any risk factors for breast cancer should get a mammogram annually.

 

For more information on how to lower your risk of breast cancer, vist http://www.breastcancer.org/risk or The National LBGT Cancer Network.

 

If you would like to make an appointment for our upcoming mammogram screening on

Sat. December 8th at the Wildrose, contact Ingrid at iberkhou@ywcaworks.org.

 

 

 

Credit for the graphic in this blog post goes to Alison Bechdel and The Lesbian Cancer Project.