Important dates this month to keep an eye on or observe.
REDFEB 2024 Heart Research Month
Meno increases our risk of future heart health issues and currently in Australia almost every hour of every day an Australian woman dies of heart disease. That is 24 women a day or 8,760 women a year! But you can change this with simple things, such as ‘Movement’, ‘Mindset’ and if you make small tweaks, ‘Modify’, you can improve your heart health and bring others along on the journey with you. Make sure you wear red throughout the month to show your support. You can find out more here
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month (OCAM)
“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.” Leslie Medley-Russell, ovarian cancer survivor.
Every year around 1,400 Australian women are diagnosed with ovarian cancer, and more than 1,000 will die from the disease. This particular cancer while most common in women over 50, can happen at any time and the symptoms, tend to mimic other common conditions, for example, pelvic or back pain, tummy swelling, being bloated and windy, constantly needing to have a wee, feeling full even if you have only eaten a small amount, and so you struggle to eat.
So, you can see ovarian cancer is hard to diagnose because the most common symptoms are vague and easily mistaken for other things. However, raising awareness and talking about these common symptoms are in important during Meno as the ovaries stop synthesising estrogen and progesterone and with that, a shift in the balance of these two sex hormones towards more estrogen increases the risk for developing ovarian cancer. Ovarian cancer currently has the lowest survival rate of any women’s cancer.
4th World Cancer Day
Our thoughts are with all the women who are going through a cancer experience at this time. ❣️”Difficult roads can lead to beautiful destinations.” ❣️
The risk of developing cancer increases with age, and as we age, with hormonal changes in our body, we have an increased risk of ovarian, breast, and uterine cancers. If you are concerned about increased risk of cancer as a result of hormone replacement therapy have a look at the Meno journal on Menopausal Hormone Therapy (MHT). What is it, what are the risks, what are the benefits, what are the alternatives, what did I experience. Below is a visualpublished by the Women’s Health Concern of the British Menopause Society, which is a helpful way to look at the risks of breast cancer per 1000 women.Remember it is essential to consider individual risk factors, lifestyle choices, and other health aspects when deciding to start HRT/ MHT.
If you missed it January was Cervical Cancer Awareness Month. Did you know that since the introduction of the National Cervical Screening Program in 91, the incidence and mortality rates of this cancer have halved. When this program first started it was just a Pap smear looking for abnormal cells in the cervix, however understanding that in 99.7% of cervical cancer cases the HPV virus was present, the cervical screening test looks for HPV infection. Most women don’t know they have HPV until they receive positive HPV test result. HPV is a very common sexually transmitted infection which usually shows no symptoms and goes away by itself. Teenagers are vaccinated against HPV as part of the free National Immunisation Program, but anyone has access to the vaccine if they wish. While HPV is present in most cervical cancer cases, it is not necessarily the reason for cervical cancer. HPV is also present in 90% of anal cancers, 78% of vaginal cancers and 25% of vulvar cancers.
The positive news is that cervical cancer is a largely preventable disease, if you stick to your regular screenings and put your hand up if you notice any changes and seek help and thanks to the screening program Australia is set to become the first country in the world to eliminate cervical cancer as a public health issue!!! That is pretty impressive and something that we should celebrate. So, if you have been avoiding the duck bill and are a women between the age of 25 -74 check your last appointment and make one if you are overdue.
10th Lunar Chinese New Year
Did you know that for women of Asian descent raised on a diet rich in soy, the rates of hot flashes and breast cancer are reduced significantly compared to those of other cultures. This is because they have a diet rich in soy. Soy protein contains phytoestrogens (hormones derived from plants) also called isoflavones, which have an estrogen‐like structure. Before you go running out and filling your fridge with soy products, for us westerners we do not have the genetics to convert the phytoestrogens into S-equol, which is produced in the body as an intestinal bacterial metabolite of the soy isoflavone, daidzein and is required to reduce your vasomotor symptoms.
It is the year of the dragon this year! 🐉🐲 So, I want you to channel your Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon. While this is based on a 19th century sword and love story, it is more about the desire to be free from the limitations that keep you from being who you want to be (and loving who you want to love). Also shout out to Michelle Yeoh who made history as the first Asian woman to win best actress at the Academy Awards in 2023 and said in her acceptance speech…..”This is proof that, dream big and dreams do come true. And ladies don’t let anybody tell you are ever past your prime!” …. Love you, Michelle!
The Chinese have used crystals in medicine for some 5000 years. In China, while many crystals are used for various properties, the most prized stone is Jade, and it is the stone for virtue, kindness, wisdom, justice, civility, music, sincerity, truth, Heaven, and Earth. The Chinese to this day believe jade to possess the power to avert evil and bad luck and to foster moral integrity and purity, health, and good fortune. If you would like to know more about crystals and their use, check out the Mindset journal on A brief history of crystals and how you might like to use them during your Meno journey.
14th Valentines Day
I want to change your ‘Mindset’ about the day. I think Valentine’s day should be about self-love first and foremost! During Meno there can be an enormous number of negative emotions that you feel about yourself, your body changes, your relationship changes, your health changes; you may experience anxiety, depression, or panic attacks for the first time. So instead of buying into the marketing and the idealisation of romance with a man (or significant other), lets focus on self-love. It is only when you absolutely love and accept yourself that you can love and accept others. Get a bunch of flowers and send it to yourself, or book yourself a massage, or just go and enjoy something that makes you feel good and demonstrates that you love and care for yourself.
Of course, I still want you to show love and respect to that special person in your life, if this is what is important to you, or you could also do something with one of the wonderful women in your life to show love of your friendship. I will leave it up to you, but whatever you do, do it with love 💖
If you need tips on how to increase self-love, check out the Mindset journals on our website.
The Rest of Days!
- 11th International Day of Women & Girls in Science
- 14th Wear Red Day (heart health)
- 20th World Day of Social Justice
