It’s October — fall is in the air and it’s time to break out the thick socks, scarves and sweaters and the warm beverages. October is also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and at HealthQuest we are celebrating breast cancer clients, and their fight to overcome this disease. Our location on Kenmount Road houses the HealthQuest Breast Care Centre, where we offer personalized wellness solutions in the form of breast forms; pre- and post-surgical bras, clothing and swimwear; compression sleeves and other garments for post-surgical edema (swelling); as well as lymphatic therapies (complete decongestive therapy).
Breast cancer is a disease that starts in the cell of the breast, and while more common in women, it can also occur in men. It is the most common cancer among Canadian women, according to the Canadian Cancer Society. In 2017, the society reported more than 26,000 new diagnoses and nearly 5,000 deaths from breast cancer. While the incidence rose and spiked in the 1990s, there has been a decrease since the early 2000s as a result of increased use of mammography, earlier detection, expanded awareness and an understanding of the disease as well as greater use of hormone replacement therapy in post-menopausal women.
A diagnosis of breast cancer comes with numerous challenges and an array of different feelings. We work with clients who are in various stages of their breast cancer experience and our goal is to help them maintain or re-gain their confidence in their appearance. We provide them with the most suitable product for their lifestyle and body type and always answer their questions and offer support and resources. We partner with industry leaders in post-breast surgery products and liase with other local clinicians and referral sources to ensure that our clients are well informed.
Risk Factors
There are a number of risk factors that we should be aware of — some are controllable, however, many are not.
- Personal or family history of breast cancer
- BRCA gene mutation and other genetic mutations
- Dense breasts
- Reproductive history
- Tall adult height
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Oral contraceptives
- Atypical hyperplasia
- Alcohol use
- Exposure to ionizing radiation
- Obesity
- Physical Inactivity
- Smoking
- High socio-economic status
Reducing the Risk
- Have your mammogram (50-69 years, every two years; 40-49 years and above 70- talk to your doctor about your risk for breast cancer)
- Discuss benefits and risks of hormone replacement therapy with your doctor
- Limit your alcohol intake
- Maintain a healthy body weight
- Be physically active
- Be a non-smoker
For the month of October, we are offering our clients buy two, get one free on any garment or bra purchase in our Breast Care Centre. We are also asking our clients for input as we prepare to make some changes to our current product lines.
If you would like to make an appointment for a consultation and fitting with one of experienced fitters, or if you wish to complete our feedback survey, please call 709-754-5944 or email [email protected]
