“But every month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month for me…”

How to navigate Breast Cancer Awareness Month when you really don’t need reminding of your diagnosis

The season is changing. Evenings are beginning to get darker, leaves are starting to turn orange and there’s a slight chill in the morning air… It’s a sure sign that October – and thus Breast Cancer Awareness Month – is almost upon us.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month (“BCAM”) is a month aimed at raising awareness of breast cancer. It’s an opportunity for encouraging breast examinations and educating people about the importance of early detection. It’s also a time for fundraising – you can’t walk down a high street or browse online without being offered numerous pink items with donations going to breast cancer charities. It’s also a time for educating people about not only the signs and symptoms of breast cancer but also about the realities of a diagnosis, going through treatment and living with the disease. There’s lots to talk about!

For those of us who’ve been through breast cancer month as someone with breast cancer – or as someone who’s had breast cancer – this can be a tricky month to navigate. Likewise, if you’ve been diagnosed in the past year and this is your first breast cancer awareness month as someone who has been directly impacted by breast cancer, you might be feeling a little daunted or overwhelmed at the thought of “BCAM”. Let’s face it, every month is breast cancer month for someone who has – or has had – the disease and how are you expected to cope with an entire month where it feels like the whole world is talking about breast cancer.

With the help of our friends in the breast cancer community, this article provides you with tips and advice for navigating BCAM.

Social Media

Social media (and particularly the breast cancer community on social media) can be especially daunting during BCAM. Whilst it is usually a place to seek comfort, advice and support, during October it can become overwhelming. 

“Don’t compare yourself to anyone else. There is no right or wrong way to get through treatment. It is OK to delete Instagram from your phone for the month. It can be incredibly triggering when every post talks about breast cancer, and you’re still coming to terms with what is happening. Take some time for yourself every day. Get outside, breathe in and out. You’re not alone.” Dr Liz O’Riordan, Co-author of The Complete Guide to Breast Cancer

“My tip would be staying off social media as much as possible in October. Social media can be an enormous support for people going through treatment, in terms of connecting with others going through the same thing. That sense of community reassurance and the comforting feeling that someone understands what you’re going through. But the downside can be that, when you don’t want to think about breast cancer, your algorithm has other ideas! If you can’t stay off it completely, then at least limit it to short bursts, and definitely not last thing at night before bed.” Rosamund Dean, journalist and author of Reconstruction: How to Rebuild Your Life, Body and Mind After a Breast Cancer Diagnosis.

Getting involved

BCAM is noisy and loud with lots of people and organisations getting involved in raising awareness, raising funds and educating on the realities of the disease. You might be invited to share your story with a charity to aid their good work, or you might choose to share your story as part of a fundraising campaign. But remember, you don’t have to. Having breast cancer does not mean that you have to get involved. 

“BCAM can be incredibly intense and triggering if you live with Secondary Breast Cancer (SBC) so my tip would be to not feel any pressure to be involved with sharing of information unless you feel comfortable and ready to do so. If you need to step away for the month then do that. Self care is so important during the month of October. If you have an online or in-person group then confide in each other to share your thoughts and feelings so you have an outlet for those feelings.”  Claire, living with SBC and Supporter and Engagement Manager of Make Seconds Count

Exercise

Whilst you may feel like hibernating during October, it’s important to keep up your usual routines, especially exercise. We’ve all heard how exercise can help your mental health so if you’re feeling out of sorts this month, doing some exercise (within your limitations and under the guidance of your medical team) could really help.

“When people talk about being ‘strong’, the best strong to be is as physically strong as possible. Buy a cheap set of resistance bands at the supermarket. Get into the habit of doing some body weight exercises, like mini squats, or against-the -counter push-ups while the kettle is boiling. Walk every day you possibly can. The physically stronger you are, the better you can tolerate the treatment.” Trisha Goddard, TV presenter and living with breast cancer.

Self care

October is a time to put your selfcare first. You need to look after yourself in order to look after those around you. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, anxious or triggered then consider what you need to do to help yourself. Our Information Hub has plenty of advice and tips on selfcare.

“Give yourself permission to put yourself and your needs first.”  Leanne Pero MBE, social entrepreneur, author, speaker and founder of Black Women Rising.

“For BCAM the online space can become quite intense and bring up a lot of memories and trigger emotions. It’s important to take care of your wellbeing by taking time away from socials if it’s upsetting, speaking in safe spaces like our online support groups or face-to-face coffee mornings. Remember to put yourself first and do things you enjoy. If you would like to speak to a clinical nurse specialist about any worries, anxieties, or re-occurring thoughts, our Nurse Support Line is available every Thursday.  If you’re a woman of colour who has experienced  cancer and  would like  to become a member of Black Women Rising, you can sign up here.  Membership includes a weekly broadcast/email with links to the above things.” Charlotte Crowl, Black Women Rising

Embracing BCAM

Whilst BCAM can be overwhelming and daunting for someone impacted by breast cancer, it is important to remember why there is a month dedicated to breast cancer. It is the most common type of cancer in women in the UK (although men can also get it) with 1 in 7 women in the UK developing breast cancer during their lifetime and around 370 men each year (according to the Cancer Research UK website as at the date of this article).

“While October can feel overwhelming for some, try to see it as an opportunity to embrace the awareness, educate others, and step outside your comfort zone. Use this time to spread the message as widely as possible, whether it’s through social media or even your circle of friends — it could help save lives through early detection.” Phil Alderson, male breast cancer survivor and patient advocate.

“Connect with your community – OUTpatients (the UK’s LGBTIQ+ cancer charity) runs online and in-person support groups monthly, with six sessions this October. Sometimes it can feel empowering to use your experience to help others – encourage friends, colleagues and loved ones in your life to get to know what’s normal for their chest.” Hal Milne, Peer Services Lead, Outpatients

How we can help

Remember that throughout October, Future Dreams is here to support you. Future Dreams hold a range of support groups, classes, workshops and events to help you and your carers during your breast cancer diagnosis. These are held both online and in person at the London-based Future Dreams House. To see what’s on offer and to book your place, see here. And our website provides a range of support from our Information Hub – click here where you can access helpful information, practical advice, personal stories and our award winning podcast. 

Breast cancer support: book classes, therapies and workshops

In-person or online, wherever you are in the UK. Future Dreams offers a wide variety of group and individual support for women at any stage of a breast cancer journey.

Future Dreams hold a range of support groups, classes, workshops and events to help you and your carers during your breast cancer diagnosis. These are held both online and in person at the London-based Future Dreams House. To see what’s on offer and to book your place, see here.

To return to the homepage of our Information Hub, click here where you can access helpful information, practical advice, personal stories and more.

September 2024

The information and content provided on this page has been written from a patient’s perspective then reviewed by a breast care nurse and it is intended for information and educational purposes only. It is not intended to substitute for professional medical advice. Please contact your medical team for advice on anything covered in this article and/or in relation to your personal situation. The links and/or recommendations in this article to third-party resources are for your information and we take no responsibility for the content contained in those third-party resources. Any product recommendations made in this article are not product endorsements and unless otherwise stated, they are made without any affiliation to the brand of that product. We ask you to note that there may be other similar products available.