PAMPERING PRESCRIPTION: Ta k e a
sunset walk, morning stroll or quick power
walk at lunchtime to your favourite cafe.
Pushed for time? Then break your walks up
into short 10-minute blocks.MINGLE
The more female friends you have, the less
likely you are to develop significant health
problems such as cancer over your lifetime,
shows research from the Harvard Medical
School Nurses’ Study. Other studies also
show that having a big group of friends is
directly linked to living longer. This is most
likely because having a wide social network
makes you feel supported and needed and
ensures that you always have someone to
hang out with on a Saturday night.
USE IT: Enjoy a slumber party with a
group of favourite girlfriends, meet your
bestie regularly for coffee, keep in touch with
your friends by phone. By regularly talkingand hanging out with your friends you will
feel part of the gang and give yourself some
good curve protection down the track.ADOPT
Owning a pet can help reduce stress levels
and lower blood pressure, which may be why
studies show that furry friends help boost
longevity for their owners. All these health
benefits help offer protection against getting
cancer. In addition, pets decrease loneliness,
encourage laughter and motivate exercise.
All win-win combinations.
USE IT: Get a cuddly kitten or puppy dog
and enjoy lots of quality furry time with your
pet. Play with them using a ball, ball of wool
or some doggy or cat toys and enjoy how
much they make you smile. Not in the right
living situation for a pet? Then hang out with
your neighbour or bestie who does so you
can still get some regular pet pleasure in
your life.SNUGGLE
“A growing number of studies show that
cuddles stimulate the production of a
hormone called oxytocin, which helps
to reduce blood pressure and lower
stress hormones,” says Hodgson. “Stress
hormones can lower your immunity to
everything from the common cold to
breast cancer.”
USE IT: Enjoy more cuddle breaks
in every day. Have a big hug with your
boyfriend before you both leave for
work in the morning, hop on to his
knees for a lap cuddle when you arrive
home from work or uni and snuggle
up for a couch cuddle while you
watch tellie on a night in. At bedtime,
increase your cuddle quotient by lying
in the spoon position, with one of you
in front and the other snuggling up
behind. Don’t have a boyfriend? Hug
your besties, sister and mum and dad.
Other practices that lower cortisol
include yoga, meditation and massage
(doctor’s orders).
LUMPY BREAST BEFORE YOUR PERIOD
It is common to experience pre-menstrual breast
swelling, tenderness and lumpiness due to fluid
retention within the breast tissue according to GP
Dr Cassy Richmond. If you’re in your 20s, it may
be a benign tumour known as a fibroadenoma,
which feels like a firm, smooth lump that moves
when pressed. Around half of women in their
30s will experience fibrocycstic changes or small
breast masses or cysts that cause lumpiness and
discomfort – particularly at certain times of the
menstrual cycle. They’re benign and generally
resolve without intervention. While the chance of
developing breast cancer before the age of 39 is less
than 0.5 per cent, you should flag any changes with
your GP.
Cysts are one of the most common causes of
breast lumps that occur in women during their
40s. They are noncancerous but may be painful.
If they are large or uncomfortable, they can be
surgically drained.
According to the Centers for Disease Control
and Prevention (CDC), women have a one in 69
chance of being diagnosed with breast cancer in
their 40s. It’s important to see your doctor if you
notice any changes. These may include the presence
of a lump in the breast or under the arm, nipple pain
or discharge, or dimpling of the skin on the breast.GAINING (OR LOSING) A CUP SIZE
After pregnancy (and breastfeeding), some breasts
remain larger or become smaller; and they may
have developed stretch marks. Moreover, because
the skin on the breasts has been stretched, some
boobs start to sag. At menopause, many women
experience mammary changes as breast tissue is
replaced by fat, causing loss of elasticity. Diminished
hormone levels can also cause breast shrinkage.BREAST PRACTICE
BAD NEWS: Finding a
lump in your breast is going
to freak you out.GOOD NEWS:Most of the time, it’s not cancer.
Before your next self-exam (you should be doing
them monthly), read up on common anomalies.