The month of October is quite eventful. It welcomes the fall season as everyone begins to plan Halloween costumes and trips to the nearest coffee shop for pumpkin spice lattes. I always think of this month as the breast cancer awareness month. I think of pink ribbons, limited edition pink items from different brands, and the amazing amount of support that women with breast cancer receive. Different organizations such as the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, raise awareness of the cancer that affects both women and men. Many cancer organizations and research foundations communicate the importance of providing emotional and financial support to those who suffer with breast cancer, but there is something I have noticed missing from the mainstream and popular campaigns.
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No one ever discusses how important it is to properly self check and how the BSE, the Breast Self-Exam, can save lives. It isn’t advertised how important it is to discuss with family members about any genetic predispositions that may affect an individual. Unless you go out and do your own research, women aren’t taught what lumps are normal, which are not and when it is best to self check.
I’ve been lucky to have been taught the importance of regularly doing self exams and how important it is to be honest with your doctor about any concerns. My mom has had several surgeries to remove cysts that were found in her breast, the biggest one having been the size of a golf ball, but thankfully none have shown any prominent signs of cancer. She has always been honest with me about the risks that women have and how there is a higher chance of breast cancer developing in our family. Discussing medical history with your family isn’t everyone’s conversation choice and less than 15% of women who get breast cancer have a family member diagnosed with it, but just being informed with the facts helps bring a peace of mind and encourages further education on these topics.
When I was a freshmen in high school, I remember going to a health fair with my family. My mom, sisters and I stopped by a breast cancer awareness booth where they were demonstrating how to conduct a BSE on a model breast. I was taught that it is best to perform self checks a few days after my menstrual cycle and to use firm clockwise motions starting farthest from the nipple and slowly inching closer to the nipple. Breastcancer.org suggests laying down on a flatbed and putting an arm behind your head and checking the breast with the opposite hand. Some lumps are part of our normal anatomy but any lumps that are painful are something to discuss with your doctor. A few red signs that may indicate a problem include but are not limited to; swelling in your armpit or around your collarbone, a change in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling, redness or a rash on the skin and liquid that comes from the nipple without squeezing. Photo Courtesy of: healthnbodytips.com
At the beginning of March of this year I noticed a painful lump in one of my breasts. The pain in the area continued to increase despite my best efforts to ignore it. By the time April came around, I knew that the pain was a serious indicator to discuss the issue with my doctor. I was then sent to get a mammogram and it was there where a doctor found two fibrosis cysts in my breast. I began to feel extremely nervous to think that there was something seriously wrong. I was relieved to have been informed that the cysts were normal and were nothing to worry too much about unless any other symptoms arose or the cysts grew in size. Breast cancer is usually diagnosed around the ages of 35 to 40 and are rarely found in men, but it is important to be familiar with your body in an effort to detect anything that could be treated early on. I know that so many of us are still young and aren’t thinking about being this self aware on such a scary topic, but it is always important to be informed and have these discussions early on.
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