YOUR HEALTH MATTERS: THIS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH, PAY ATTENTION

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a time to bring attention to a disease that affects millions of women around the world.

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally, and in 2024, about 2.4 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide.

Behind every statistic, however, is a woman with a life, a family, a business, dreams, responsibilities and people who love her. That is why this conversation must go beyond statistics. It is about women and their lives.

And for women building businesses, leading teams, serving clients and carrying the weight of many responsibilities, this conversation is especially important. As a woman in business, I know how easy it can be for an entrepreneur to become so focused on building her business that she forgets to take care of the woman building it. Your business needs you, but so do the people you love. Your health must be part of the success you are working so hard to build.

Awareness begins with paying attention to your body and taking unusual changes seriously. Early diagnosis and timely treatment can make a significant difference, and this is why we must stop postponing our health because we are busy taking care of everyone else. Make time for appropriate medical care and follow the screening advice that applies to your age and personal risk. Do not allow a busy schedule, business demands or the responsibilities of entrepreneurship to keep you from getting checked.

There is no guaranteed way to prevent breast cancer, and many women who develop it have no known specific risk factor apart from being female and getting older. Still, there are choices that can help reduce the risk of cancer generally and support better health.

Stay physically active, work towards a healthy weight, eat a balanced diet, avoid tobacco and limit alcohol. Most importantly, know your personal and family history and discuss your risk with a qualified healthcare professional.

As women, we often become very good at prioritizing everything and everyone else. We make time for meetings, deadlines, customers, employees, family and responsibilities, yet somehow convince ourselves that we can postpone the doctor's appointment or the health check. We cannot continue to treat our health as something we will attend to when we have more time.

Taking care of yourself is not vanity, and it is not selfish. For a woman who spends so much of her life building, nurturing and showing up for others, taking care of her own health is one of the most important forms of self love.

Your health is part of your wealth. It is part of the life, business and legacy you are building.

And what about the women who are already walking this difficult road? They need more than our pink ribbons. They need our compassion, our presence and our support. Breast cancer can bring fear, uncertainty, physical changes and emotional exhaustion, and every woman's experience is different. Let us be careful about the words we use around someone who is sick. Let us listen without judging, offer practical help where we can, check in on her and remind her that she does not have to face the journey alone.

WHO's theme for Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2026 is “Every story is unique, every journey matters,” a reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person whose wellbeing and story matter.

This October, let awareness become action. Pay attention to your health. Encourage the women you love to do the same. If you are an entrepreneur, business owner or professional, make your health appointments part of your calendar just as you make time for your business meetings. Get the appropriate checks, know your risk and prioritize your well-being. Share accurate information, have the conversations we sometimes avoid and support women who are already navigating breast cancer.

Let us remember that we need healthy women to live those lives, build those businesses and enjoy those legacies.

To every woman fighting breast cancer, recovering from it, supporting someone through it, or grieving someone she has lost, we see you and we stand with you.

If you are a businesswoman or you know a businesswoman who is a warrior, drop a ❤️ in the comment section.