Hello out there, how are you? I very much hope you and yours are well. And if you are not, know my thoughts and prayers are with you. Here are a hug and a huge mug of your favourite hot beverage. You can do it! No matter the challenge.

So, we have managed to come to the third week of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and today I want to write about risk factors that can lead to breast cancer. 

I was always aware of my risk of getting Breast Cancer.

As you can imagine, I have always been aware of my risk to develop breast cancer. This is why I never started smoking, tried to eat as healthily as I could and never drank much alcohol. These were the risk factors I was aware of throughout my life. Well, I was also aware that being physically active helps prevent cancer. However, I always felt I never did enough. But we’ll talk about prevention next week. 

Risk Factors of Getting Breast Cancer that you can’t prevent

There are risk factors that you can’t do anything about. These are 

– your age (the older, the more at risk)

– your race (white women get breast cancer more than any other race) 

– inheritance (a family history of breast cancer) 

– how long you are exposed to estrogen (having your periods early and longer). 

I wasn’t aware that estrogen seems to have such a significant impact on breast cancer. But besides having used the pill for some time, it would not affect me as my periods started at an average age I guess (I was 14) and my menopause started early. I am not 50 yet and am through with it. 

Risk Factors of getting Breast Cancer that you can do something about

Then there are risk factors that you can do something about: 

• your weight affects the risk of getting breast cancer (the more you weigh, the more the chance), 
• smoking and alcohol, 
• physical inactivity, 
• eating unhealthily and 
• using hormone therapies like HRT and the pill.

There are a couple more that I haven’t mentioned. 

Find out more about the risk factors of getting Breast Cancer with these links.

You can find out more about risk factors at these links:

NHS on risk factors of getting Breast Cancer

Cancer Research on risk factors of getting Breast Cancer

Mayo Clinic on risk factors of getting Breast Cancer

Cancer.org on risk factors of getting Breast Cancer

When I was looking into these risks, I learned that I did as much as I could to prevent getting cancer which is a comfort. And that I will do as much as I can do avoid getting it back. Because having had cancer is another risk factors. So I am determined to be more active and eat even more healthily than I did before. 

So enough of the serious stuff. Are you ready to Come Away with Me to Bosnia & Herzegowina?

Come Away With Me to Bosnia & Herzegowina

I have to admit that I didn’t know much about Bosnia & Herzegowina. Both used to be a popular holiday destination when I was young, and it was still part of Yugoslavia. My first friend in kindergarten was grom Yugoslavia. There used to be a considerable minority of immigrant workers from that area who lived in the South of Germany, where I grew up. 

Then the Balcan War broke out, and I remembered the destruction of Mostar Bridge. Also, the killings and the rapings. I am still appalled at how fast a civilised country can fall into civil war. I am still shocked at how cruel humans can be to other humans something I do not and do not want to understand. 

But it taught me that civilisation is just an illusion that falls apart as soon as someone uses our deep-seated unconscious fears of being in mortal danger. We lose civilisation if we do not actively protect it and work against all those who like us to fight against each other. 

So let’s find out a little more about beautiful Bosnia Herzegowina with these videos:

And here are some musicians I found on last.FM. It seems like most of them took part one way or the other in the Eurovision Song Contest. Curious 🙂

And where are we going next week?

Come Away With Me 2020 Musical Challenge Country for Monday, October 26th, 2020

I am taking a rather random route around the world, but sometimes it makes sense. Next week we venture into Serbia. Please find musicians from Serbia on Last FM.

As for the suggestions to take part:

1. Join in! No matter where, when and with what. No matter if you have cancer or not! You missed the first week? Don’t worry. Just jump in when it suits you.
2. Send us the link! The ping-back option does not always work so please leave a link in the comments of the post on the day you take part. Or leave it at the “Come Away With Me 2020 FB page“
3. Tag your post either with ” Come Away With Me Musical Challenge”/ #CoAwWiMeMuCh” / “Come Away with Me 2020 Musical Challenge” o/“CoAwWiMe2020MuCh” / . You can also use these as hashtags for Twitter and other Social Networks to give your post more exposure. If you add #blog and #music with your hashtags it will get you more readers.
4. No matter which music or country the prompt favours you create with it whatever you please. This is supposed to be a fun challenge and no chore.
5. I post a prompt for the next week with every “Come Away With Me 2020 post” I write.
6. If you like, use this picture for your readers to find the posts.

I am fundraising for McMillan and you can donate here and download Bees McMillan Coffee Morning German Christmas Download (PDF file) (no it’s not in German but about German recipes and Christmas 😉 ) here: Feel free to download it anyway now that the even has ended 🙂

Just one more thing before you go: The hospital that is treating me is fundraising for a dedicated breast cancer unit that would allow same-day diagnosis and better premises for patients and staff.

Please, if you can spare a little money hop over to their Just Giving Page and give as little or much as you can. Or share the page on your social media. Your support means a lot to me! Thank you very much.

Thanks my dears, for staying with me until the end. I appreciate your presence. Please stay safe, stay kind and remember that you rock!