Look at yourself, touch yourself, take care of yourself (October 12th, breast cancer awareness month)

I know I'm a man, but I'm also a nurse; I worked for a while and did my social service in the public health sector. (Well, I still work in the health service, but independently.)

This post is not just about raising awareness about breast cancer, but cancer in general. I've seen TikToks where people talk about this and claim that cancer is a type of fungus and that it is curable with natural alternative and home treatments. Literally, these people have a completely altered perception of reality. Even though I comment on reality, TikTok censors me on these topics for misinforming people.

Let's make one thing clear, cancer is not a fungus or anything like that.

In simple terms, cancer occurs when a cell in our body replicates uncontrollably, regardless of its location. The cells in our body have a life cycle and a limit of replication or division. When they reach a certain age or are damaged, they divide to create younger cells and the old ones die in a constant cycle of renewal.

With cancer, this cell death does not occur; old or damaged cells, instead of dying, continue to replicate infinitely, creating unnecessary cells for the body and forming masses of tissue called tumors.

Cancer is a genetic disease, which means that you cannot contract it by being close to a sick person. The causes can vary depending on our environment and the type of cancer that develops, but the basis is the same: errors that occur when cells multiply, damage to DNA, and it can also be hereditary from parents to children.

Although our bodies can eliminate cells with damaged DNA before they replicate, this immune capacity declines with age, thus increasing the risk of cancer as we age.

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It is important to perform regular self-examinations, especially if there is a history of breast cancer in your family

(this applies to both women and men, since they can also suffer from breast cancer).

It is important that if you notice the following in your breasts, you consider a medical consultation:

• Lumps in the armpit.

• Swelling in the bust area.

• Pain in the nipple or breast.

• Changes in the shape of the nipple (either lumps or indentations).

• Hardening or changes in the breasts or nipple.

•  Any type of abnormal discharge.

It is important that you have a mammogram every two years from the age of 40 at a trusted clinic.

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Remember that if you are in Mexico, both the federal and state governments and some municipalities will offer mobile mammography modules in various locations, such as:

- IMSS hospitals

- Civil hospitals

- Urban health centers

- Rural medical units.

These consultations are completely free and available to everyone. Check your local government's health pages to find the location closest to you.

Free check-ups are also available through the campaigns of Dr. Vagón, which is literally a mobile hospital equipped with operating rooms. To follow the train, it is useful to check the local news and know which municipalities it is in, since it usually stays only 1 to 2 weeks in one municipality before moving to another.

You can also get free check-ups through the FUCAM Foundation; however, the treatments are not free, although they are the cheapest of all.

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And that's it, the sooner cancer is diagnosed and treated, the sooner it will be eradicated. Breast cancer affects us all, either directly or indirectly.

Those of us who have relatives who have had or suffered from cancer will understand this.

Each person is a world and each battle is different; some are easy, others seem impossible to win. But the important thing is not to give up, if you have to fall, do it with your head held high and your mind at peace.