October...being the beginning of the last quarter and the beginning of the end-of-the-year holidays...typically has a way of filling up quickly for me. Well...probably for most. LOL

Work is moving right along. Family needs your attention. Maybe you've even started planning for the festivities of the season. 🍂🦃🎄

But then...

...you saw that reminder about Breast Cancer Awareness Month or Healthy Lungs Awareness Month and thought, "I should probably do something about that."

And then the next meeting starts. Next client call happens. Next...

If that sounds familiar, know that you can begin by making room for a few important questions and one or two next steps to bring these awareness times to the forefront of your own life. Because here's the thing: caring for your health belongs in the life you're currently living AND the one you're building. Yes. Even when that life is already full.

Both Breast Cancer and Healthy Lung Awareness's are invitations to pay attention to your body. Understand your risks. Get tests and have conversations you may have been putting off. 

And I know first-hand what even routine exams can reveal. For me, it was a simple mammogram. That lead to a biopsy. That lead to a serious diagnosis. That lead to surgery. That lead to radiation therapy. That lead to what is now, medication for the next 5 years. And I'm SO grateful! 🙏🏽

So...let’s make that feel a little more hopeful and doable, shall we? 

Start With What You Know About Your Body

Whether you lead a business, a team, or a household...you get pretty good at noticing changes in other people, or what they might need. But when it comes to yourself...it can be surprisingly easy to explain away your own needs or symptoms. You know it's true.

Maybe you tell yourself you're tired because the previous quarter was SO busy. Or that a nagging cough is probably leftover from a summer cold.

Sometimes those explanations are right. But sometimes...they're not. And guess what? It's not your job to figure that out.

With breast health, self-examination is critical. Pay attention to changes that are new for you. Sure...you're looking for the "lump" in your breast or underarm. Those are the most common. But also breast swelling, skin dimpling, or a change in breast or nipple shape. And if you have nipple discharge, especially if it's bloody, this requires an immediate conversation with a healthcare professional. Seriously.

And while many breast changes are not cancer, I believe...they are all worth checking into. I also believe that "note" deserves a place in your medical chart regardless. And yes, breast cancer can affect men, too.

For your lungs, notice if you have a cough that won't go away, ongoing shortness of breath, wheezing, or recurring chest infections. Get medical help immediately if you cough up blood, have significant trouble breathing, or develop chest pain. 

Listen...you do not earn brownie points for waiting until your calendar clears or the project is over to get things checked out. I can't tell you how much moving around I did to get things done. Because once I had the results from that scheduled mammogram...everything that followed for my best health took precedence. Period.

Paying attention is a form of care, not a reason to panic. So, if something has changed, or you just have questions...make the call and let a qualified professional help you decide what comes next.

Put Screening on the Calendar...

For people at average risk, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends a screening mammogram every two years from ages 40 through 74. Other medical organizations offer somewhat different recommendations, so it can be confusing, for sure.

Here is a great article from breastcancer.org about the latest recommendations for when to get a mammogram. It offers several "expert" guidelines and the "ongoing debate" around them. (Not surprised.) That's why it's important to realize that YOU are YOU. And following a blanket recommendation isn't always advised. 

A screening mammogram is for people without symptoms. But if you have noticed a new breast change, or your family history changes...tell your healthcare professional right away, rather than waiting for your next routine screening. Details like these matter. It may not change the next step...but you've taken the first one.

Lung cancer screening is different. It's not recommended for everyone. Typically it's for those who have a smoking history (yes, even if you've stopped within the past 15 years), and are between ages 50-80. If you fall in those categories, ask your healthcare professional about the potential benefits and risks, and whether screening is right for you.

Even if those criteria don't fit, persistent lung symptoms still require medical attention. They deserve medical attention. YOU deserve medical attention.

REMEMBER: Screening guidelines and symptom evaluations...serve different purposes.

Here is the simple bridge from knowing to doing: open your calendar while you are thinking about it. If you are due for a medical visit or screening...schedule it. If you're unsure, call or send a message asking when you should be screened AND whether your (new) history changes the recommendation. One or two questions can bring both clarity and peace.

Give Your Lungs Some Everyday Support

Healthy lungs are part of being able to show up for the people you love, and do the things you love. You may notice symptoms most when you're laughing with a friend, walking outdoors, or taking a full breath after a hard conversation or task.

There are practical ways to support your lungs. If you smoke or vape, asking for help to quit is a strong next step, no matter how many times you've tried before. And understanding that there are other ways to manage stress, can help in your overall well-being.

If you don't smoke, reducing exposure to secondhand smoke still matters big time. You can also pay attention to air quality alerts where you live, especially when you know you'll be outside. Also consider testing your home for radon, which is an invisible gas that can increase lung cancer risk.

Movement helps support overall health, including your heart and lungs. 😎 It doesn't need to become some big, crazy project. A walk between meetings or a few minutes outside after lunch can be a start, if those activities are appropriate for you. Now, of course if exercise brings on any concerning symptoms...talk with your healthcare professional as soon as possible.

Okay. Now, perhaps this is where your planner-lover side gets to help. 😊 

Set one reminder to:

• check the air quality before an outdoor activity

• look up radon testing

• or ask a question at your next appointment.

BOOM!

You are allowed to make healthy choices easier to remember. Just sayin. 😎

Simple Steps to Take 

I know how quickly a health reminder can turn into a mental list: book the appointment, change the routine, research the symptoms, buy the thing, do it all before the weekend. Oh yes. And then there's the follow-up appointment. Yeah...before long, caring for yourself feels like another job. It's not meant to be that way, my friend.

Let’s make it smaller, shall we? Choose one step that fits this week:

• Check when you had your last mammogram and ask when your next one is due. For men...don't dismiss asking how you can be aware. 
• Write down a breast or breathing change you've noticed, and contact your healthcare professional about it.
• Ask whether a recent personal or family history affects your screening plan.
• If you have a history of smoking, ask whether lung cancer screening is appropriate for you.
• Take one practical step toward cleaner air at home or in your daily routine.

Here's What I Know to Be True

You get to choose the step that matters most right now. You can ask for help making the appointment or finding the information. You can also let an unanswered question be the reason to reach out, rather than the reason to procrastinate.

I get it. For many high-achievers, the hard part is giving their own needs a legitimate place beside everyone else’s. 

Listen. Your work matters. Your family matters. And your health matters, too. Making space for an appointment or even a conversation is one way to step into and live that truth.

Listen. You deserve reliable information, thoughtful medical guidance...and room to feel whatever comes up along the way. Yes. It's okay to feel the feels!

I also know that being well is not something you can check off perfectly. That's not reality. 

Bodies need attention over time. Questions come up over time. Plans change over time. You can respond to what is in front of you in the moment...without blaming yourself for what you did or did not know before.

For me, faith is part of that care. I believe God created me on purpose, from purpose, for purpose. And I believe the same for you!

Our bodies are part of the life we've been given to live that purpose forward. Taking care of it can be a quiet, meaningful way of honoring that. A way of stewardship. Every day.

Here's My Encouragement to You

Before you move on to the next thing today, ask yourself: "What is one health conversation or action I have been postponing?" Then make it as easy as possible to begin. Put the number in your phone. Send the message. Add the reminder. Ask someone you trust to sit with you while you make the call.  Not kidding.

You do not need to carry every question by yourself. And you do not have to put your well-being on hold until work or life in general slows down. Your life is happening now.  And trust me...there is room to care for the person living it. 😉

If you would like support making space for your well-being in the middle of what's happening in your life right now...I invite you to explore the Bridge to Wholeness Reset. We begin with the area that needs your attention most right now...mind, body, or spirit...and take simple steps forward together. You can learn more HERE.