What to Know About Breastfeeding After Breast Cancer
Women who have experienced breast cancer or are currently going through treatment may naturally assume they won’t be able to breastfeed. Although this is true for some, there are others who will still be able to breastfeed. Learn more about options for breast feeding after radiation treatment and reconstructive surgery such as lumpectomy and mastectomy.
We Are Better Together — No Seriously
Several years ago, Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad of Brigham Young University boiled a heap of meaty research down to a simple finding: loneliness and a low level of social support present the same risk to our physical health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. That’s right. While people facing cancer and other serious illnesses have long been advised to join support groups to bolster their emotional well-being, we now know that social support is also linked with improved physical health in the general population, such as lower mortality rates, lower risk of heart disease and stroke and decreased blood pressure and chronic pain.
Tracking Your Family Health History
A large part of being a good advocate for your own health lies in making yourself aware of your health risks and predispositions. You may think your health extends only as far as you, when in truth your health is a combination of your genetic makeup, your environment, and your behaviors. In order to be as knowledge about your health as possible, it is important to consider the health of your family as well.