Breast Cancer Awareness Month: A Survivor's Guide to Screening and Gentle Self-Care
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For our founder, Lyndsay Sunderlin, it is personal. At 38, weeks before turning 39, a bump from her two-year-old daughter hurt more than it should have. She called her doctor the next day, had her first mammogram two weeks later, and within three weeks had a double mastectomy. Angel Oh was born from that season, her beauty from the ashes. This month we want to share the information she wishes every woman had, in plain language, from trusted public health sources.
Who should get a mammogram, and how often?
According to the CDC, the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends that women who are 40 to 74 years old and at average risk for breast cancer get a mammogram every 2 years. Women at higher than average risk may follow different screening recommendations, so the right plan depends on your personal and family history.
The CDC explains that screening cannot prevent breast cancer, but it can help find it early, when it is easier to treat. It also encourages informed, shared decision-making: talking through the benefits and risks of screening with your health care provider and deciding together what is right for you.
Questions to bring to your next appointment
- Based on my history, am I at average or higher risk for breast cancer?
- When should I start screening, and how often should I go?
- Do I have dense breasts, and does that change anything for me?
- Should I talk to a genetic counselor because of my family history?
- Where can I get a mammogram, and will my insurance cover it?
What if cost is a barrier?
The CDC runs the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program, which offers free or low-cost mammograms to women who qualify. In Ohio, the program is offered through the Ohio Department of Health. Ask your doctor, local health department, or a community health center how to check your eligibility.
Gentle self-care during and after treatment
Everyone's experience is different, and your care team knows your situation best. These are small, gentle ideas many people find comforting, not medical advice:
- Ask before you add. Treatment can make skin more sensitive. Check with your care team before starting any new skincare product, including natural and handmade ones.
- Simplify your routine. Fewer products with shorter ingredient lists make it easier to know what you are using and to spot anything that bothers your skin.
- Be careful with scent. Some cancer centers advise people receiving chemotherapy or radiation not to put essential oils on their skin. If scent comforts you, ask your team what is safe.
- Rest without guilt. A warm bath, a quiet cup of tea, or ten minutes in the sun can be part of healing too.
- Let people help. Say yes to meals, rides, and visits. Healing is physical, emotional, and spiritual.
How to support someone you love
Show up in small, practical ways. Offer a specific kind of help, like a ride to an appointment or a meal on Tuesday, instead of "let me know if you need anything." If you want to send a gift, choose something gentle and low pressure, or a gift card so they can choose what feels right. See our gift guide for someone going through a hard time.
A note from Angel Oh
We share our founder's story because it is why this brand exists, not to sell a cure. Our products are cosmetics. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, and they are never a substitute for medical care. The most important thing you can do this October is talk to your doctor about screening.
Sources
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Screening for Breast Cancer. cdc.gov/breast-cancer/screening
- U.S. Preventive Services Task Force. Breast Cancer: Screening (2024). uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org
- CDC. National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program. cdc.gov/breast-cervical-cancer-screening
- American Cancer Society. Skin care during cancer treatment. cancer.org