Women’s Health | October Pink campaign reinforces the importance of self-care
Written by: Horiens - 03/10/2022
It has been a few months now that Ana Paula Oliano, a member of Horiens, has been breathing a sigh of relief. The routine at work and at home is practically back to normal. The days of treatment for breast cancer are behind her and today she recalls, with emotion, the challenges she faced throughout the process. Having to deal with a serious illness was not in his plans. Married and the mother of a 20-year-old, she still had a lot to live up to alongside her family.
It was in August 2020, while she was taking a shower, that Ana Paula felt a strange sensation in one of her breasts. She, who has always been very attentive to her health, sought care at the company’s old outpatient clinic on the same day. After performing mammography and ultrasound exams, the diagnosis came.
“Receiving that news was very difficult. At the time, I became apprehensive and it took me a while to assimilate what was happening. I can’t say it was a painful treatment. Some chemotherapy sessions were heavier, yet I kept working. The work helped me a lot to go through all of this, and little by little you get used to the treatment routine,” she says.
The type of cancer that Ana Paula had is the most common among women all over the world. In Brazil, in 2022, It is estimated that there will be 66,280 new cases of the disease according to data from the National Cancer Institute. Breast cancer does not have a single cause, but it can be related to some risk factors such as age, being overweight and obese, drinking alcohol, physical inactivity, and family history. However, there are cases of women who develop the disease without having identifiable risk factors.
Prevention
To prevent the onset of breast cancer and other types of tumors the first step is to adopt a healthy way of life. In addition to this, periodic exams are fundamental as a preventive measure in relation to the development of more serious conditions, since they allow the disease to be detected and treated in its early stages, increasing the chances of cure.
The Pink October campaign, held internationally, is an alert for women regarding the prevention, diagnosis, and early treatment of breast cancer. In support of this movement, the health insurance companies are offering exemption from co-payment fees for various exams for Novonor group members and dependents during the month of October.
The attention to the signs of her own body and the quick action to seek medical attention were decisive for the success of Ana Paula’s treatment. Today, she is grateful to be well enough to share her story with others. “It was a difficult time, but also one of a lot of growth. Sometimes we are so involved with the demands of work, the child, the husband, that we forget about ourselves. Today, I realize how important it is to stop for a while to see yourself in the middle of it all,” she says.
