Those of you who have been following Tough Cookie Mommy for a while know that cancer advocacy is a cause that I am deeply committed to. As a Leukemia Survivor, I know all too well the importance of being proactive about my health and the medical care that I receive. Additionally, I also educate myself on the foods that I eat as well as what I expose my body to on a daily basis. In my role as a parent, I have also worked hard to impart this awareness on to my children.
Since this month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, it is fitting that we should discuss how we can attempt to lower the risk of breast cancer by having these important conversations with our daughters, our nieces and the other women in our lives. We all try to help our children grow up healthy. But the environment around a young girl may change the way her body develops.
It is too soon to say for sure that avoiding certain chemicals or foods lowers the risk of breast cancer. Still, to help protect our daughters and sisters from developing breast cancer later in life, it is never too early to begin taking steps. BCERP has a number of resources for parents and families on how to reduce risk.
Scientists, physicians, and community partners in the Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Program (BCERP), which is supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), study the effects of environmental exposures on breast cancer risk later in life. They created a mother-daughter toolkit mothers can use to talk to daughters about steps to take together to reduce risk.
Please take a few minutes to complete a survey to help support the important work the researchers are doing. You can take the survey HERE
Let’s Discuss: How do you you communicate with your daughter and the other women in your life about women’s health issues?
Disclosure: This is a sponsored campaign created in collaboration with The Motherhood for BCERP. All opinions are 100% my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
© 2017, Tough Cookie Mommy. All rights reserved.
I don’t have a daughter, but I have talked about women’s health with my Mom as well as my friends. We usually have a pretty natural conversation about it and talk about what we can do to get checked.
I have lost loved ones to cancer and that’s also why I make it a point to spread awareness. If there’s a chance to keep my kids away from it, I’m going to take that chance. I think these are great tips.
This is so timely! Thanks for sharing such good tips! I have gone toxin free in our household since May. I need to cut some more things out but we are making steps. All of my makeup, beauty products, toiletries, cleaning products, laundry soap, dryer sheets (switched to dryer balls), just about all of our house is toxin free now! I just need to get some good glass pitchers for serving tea out of and ditch the plastic ones. Of course my diet could always be more consistent as well but I’m a work in progress.
I talk to our teenage daughters about women’s health in an organic way so they feel comfortable and free to ask questions. These four simple steps are so helpful to give you talking points in the conversation. I think talking about these things as you go about your day is essential so it doesn’t seem forced or unnatural.
I lost my grandmother to breast cancer and it’s scary to think that there’s a chance my mum/sister/me could face a diagnosis someday. I’m going to try and do everything I can to be aware and take preventative measures.
This is such a helpful resource and has taught me a lot! It is so important for us to take care of ourselves and our loved ones, and take precautions where possible. It’s important for children growing up to know about way they can take care of their health.
I have Granddaughters and this is such a great resource to start that conversation with them. It’s so important to develop healthy habits that will define our lives and health for a lifetime. Thank you for this resource.
Keeping the mood open will help to make conversation such as this easier. This is what I attempt to do so that when something is needing discussed the discussion takes place.
I have tried since my early 20s to do monthly checks and always make sure I visit my dr on time. It’s so important that we are our own advocates.
As a homeschooling mom, I am constantly teaching my kids about health and taking care of themselves. I often talk about things that can be done to reduce the risk of cancer like maintaining a healthy weight and eating right.
My mom and I have always been pretty open on health topics. I hope to pass that knowledge along to my daughter as she gets older.
Discussing breast cancer with your kids is a really good idea. Reducing the risks early on can make a big difference.
I’ve been teaching both of my kids about what chemicals to avoid. They’re little experts already!
I love this. My momma has survived breast cancer. I hope that myself and my daughter won’t have to endure the same she did.
A very good initiative indeed. Breast cancer seems to be the most punitive one these days especially when let undetected. Your have a great resource here.