Could your bra save your life? We bet you’ve never had such a dramatic thought while getting dressed in the morning, but the British organization Coppafeel! thinks it’s possible. The charity’s self-reported goal is to “stamp out late detection of breast cancer” by encouraging women (and men) of all ages to check themselves regularly for “anything that doesn’t feel right.” The organization’s founder was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 23, which inspired her to get the word out about the importance of early detection. One of the group’s projects is called “#BraHijack,” and the plan is a very simple one: Put self exam reminder tags on bras to reach women on a daily basis. They’ve partnered with a few companies so far, and are looking to work with more in the future.
The American Cancer Society recommends women over 40 get a mammogram every year, but women in their 20s and 30s are advised to get clinical breast exams (CBEs) only every 3 years. Because breast cancer is not on the minds of many young people, collegiettes may not think to check their breasts for irregularities except for during their CBE. For this reason, these tags are a great way to spread the word to young people that they should make sure everything is normal on a regular basis. Whether they’ll be very effective is another question. While purchasers will notice the tags when they first get the bra, it is unlikely that people will continue to notice the tag after owning the bra for a while, so its success may be limited. After all, when is the last time you read your bras’ tags? We know one thing, however—it certainly can’t hurt!
What do you think, collegiettes? Will reminder tags be helpful? Should all bras have them?