October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, as you most likely already know. Although this blog is pretty much non-serious and very hobby-inspired, I felt this was a subject that needed a bit of attention, worth a serious moment around here. 

Breast Cancer is the number one cancer to affect women around the world. In 2012, 1.7 million breast cancer cases were detected worldwide, being the second most common cancer (number one was lung cancer, if you're curious). This was 25% of the detected cancers to affect women, overall.

And what makes it frustrating is that there is a very simple procedure to help identify such cancer in early stages, when it's more easily treated, which most women completely ignore as part of their routine. Yeah, I know you know what I'm talking about. Self-examination time, babe. Confess: you ignore it just as much as I do. And we shouldn't. Ever.

Examining your breasts regularly, preferably monthly, allows you to know your breasts, know how it feels, looks, it's natural bumps and lumps. This way, any irregularity will be easily identifiable. And the earlier such irregularities are identified and brought to a doctor's attention, the easier it will be to cure whatever is causing it, if needed. 

Oh, and here's a warning note: although this is the number one cancer affecting women, it's not an exclusively women disease. Men are just as well subject to such type of cancer. Unfortunately, this isn't a well known reality, which leads to less men performing self-exams and seeking medical aid when something a bit strange shows up on their breasts. We are all mammals, guys, let's check those boobies! For our own good!

Please take a look at the below links for more detailed information on how to perform a proper self-exam and other data on risk factors, statistics and donations to research, which have all been the source of all the info on this post. 

You can also watch this effing heart-breaking video made by the lovely Sprinkleofglitter, if you want to know how breast cancer affects not only the patient, but their loved ones, bringing a bit of a different light to the importance of its awareness.