Educational

Komen Charlotte is dedicated to educating members of our community on the importance of good breast health practices.

1. Breast Self-Awareness
2. Online Educational Resources
3. Request Educational Material
4. Request a Speaker or Health Fair Representative
5. The State of Breast Cancer Report

Breast Self-Awareness
Except for skin cancers, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. Screening tests can find cancer early, when it’s most treatable. Susan G. Komen for the Cure® recommends that you:

1. Know your risk
• Talk to your family to learn about your family health history
• Talk to your doctor about your personal risk of breast cancer

2. Get screened
• Ask your doctor which screening tests are right for you if you are at a higher risk
• Have a mammogram every year starting at age 40 if you are at average risk
• Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at 20, and every year starting at 40

3. Know what is normal for you
See your health care provider right away if you notice any of these breast changes:
• Lump, hard knot or thickening
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening
• Change in the size or shape of the breast
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away

4. Make healthy lifestyle choices
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Add exercise into your routine
• Limit alcohol intake

Make these actions a part of your life.  You are the cure.

Download your own Breast-Self Awareness card!

Komen Online Educational Resources
Komen National has many online educational resources available to everyone, including:
• Interactive tools: Breast-Self Exam tutorial, Breast cancer Quiz and Anatomy of Breast Cancer
• Understanding Breast Cancer section, co-developed with the Harvard School of Public Health
• Facts for Life handouts cover a huge range of topics from prevention, diagnosis and treatment options. They are all available   for download.
• Get the latest in Breast Cancer News from Komen National
 

Request Educational Materials
If you would like to request breast health educational material from Komen Charlotte, please fill out the Educational Materials Request Form.  A representative from the Komen staff will be in touch with you within 5 business days of receiving your completed form.

Only requests from individuals or organizations within our 9-county service area can be considered.  If outside of the service area, please look up your closest Komen Affiliate online. Please allow at least 2 weeks lead time for educational material requests. There is a limit of 100 copies of each material, although 100 copies are not guaranteed. Please complete the request form and fax or email it to the Komen office.

Request a Speaker or Health Fair Representative
Komen Charlotte is dedicated to spreading the message of early detection and we are committed to providing as many resources to our local communities as possible. We do our best to provide free speakers and information at health fairs when requested; however, we cannot guarantee these services. We ask that you place your request as far in advance as possible as this increases the chance of volunteer availability for your event.

Please download our Educational Speaker and Health Fair Request Form and fax or email the completed form to the Komen office. A representative from the Komen staff will be in touch with you within 5 business days of receiving your completed form. If we are able to fill your request, additional information regarding your event will be requested.

The State of Breast Cancer Report
Click here for The State of Breast Cancer Report in PDF format.

Susan G. Komen for the Cure, recognized as the global leader in the breast cancer movement, has published the State of Breast Cancer report, a first-ever, reader-friendly snapshot of where the United States and the global community are in the quest to end breast cancer forever. Written for readers who have an interest in breast cancer but no formal background in the biology of the disease, the State of Breast Cancer provides information on advancements in diagnosis, treatment and research that have made breast cancer a survivable disease for more than 2 million people in the United States. But the news is not all good. The report also explores cultural, social, educational and financial barriers or disparities that prevent many people from getting screened and receiving life-saving breast cancer care.