Breast Cancer Awareness Month

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month (BCAM). Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annual international health campaign organized by breast cancer charities to increase awareness of the disease and to raise funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment, and cure.

The Story Behind OMGTea

If you are familiar with the story behind OMGTea, you will know that BCAM is a cause very close to our hearts. OMGTea founder, Katherine Swift, first discovered matcha when her mum was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2010. Active and young at heart, Elizabeth had always been a picture of health, so the diagnosis came as a real shock to the whole family. Katherine was determined to do whatever she could to support her mum through the treatment and became involved in a fundraising campaign for a major breast cancer charity. Through her work with the charity, she learned about antioxidants and their importance in fighting disease. She knew green tea was high in antioxidants and wanted to find the very best green tea available and her research led her to Japanese matcha green tea! Katherine and her mum started drinking it every day and they felt great. Her mum was taking back some control that her illness robbed from her and Katherine was doing something positive to help. Katherine felt so passionate about matcha that she wanted to spread the word about this extraordinary green powder and launched OMGTea a few years later.

How can we reduce the risk of breast cancer? 

Breast Cancer Awareness Month is a good time to reflect on the things we can do to reduce breast cancer. Not all risk factors are within our control but there are some things we can do to reduce the risk.

• Maintain a healthy weight through a balanced diet and regular physical activity. A balanced diet will be rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein. Limiting the intake of processed and high fat foods and sugary drinks is also key to a healthy weight and diet and the inclusion of foods with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, such as berries, turmeric, and green tea, should also be considered.

• The importance of regular exercise cannot be overlooked. Studies show that by engaging in activities like brisk walking, jogging, swimming, or dancing for at least 150 minutes per week can reduce breast cancer risk by as much as 20%.

• Regular breast health monitoring is critical for early detection and better outcomes. Make yourself familiar with the normal appearance and feel of your breasts and notify your doctor should you notice any changes.  

• Look out for your mammogram invite letter and don’t put off booking an appointment. A woman’s risk of getting breast cancer goes up as they get older, with about four out of five breast cancers found in women over 50 years old. Under the NHS Breast Screening Programme, eligible women will usually receive their first routine invitation for breast cancer screening between the ages of 50 and 53 and will normally be invited every three years until they are 70.

How is OMGTea getting involved?

OMGTea supports The Healthy Life Foundation, a charity founded by Katherine, that funds research into age-related disease, including breast cancer. The mission of The Healthy Life Foundation is to support scientific and medical research targeted at preventing degenerative disease and extending both human health span and life span and thus improving quality of life nationally and globally.

For the month of October, we will donate 5% of web sales to The Healthy Life Foundation and earmark the contribution for future studies on the prevention and treatment of breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of knowledge, early detection, and support in the fight against breast cancer. By spreading awareness, promoting regular screenings, and advocating for continued research and innovation, we can make significant strides in preventing and treating this disease. Breast cancer affects not just individuals, but entire communities, families, and friends. That’s why we want to do whatever we can to help create a world where breast cancer is no longer a life-threatening diagnosis, but a condition that is detected early and treated effectively.