Breast Cancer Awareness - Let’s talk about b@@bs 🍒
This week’s post is in honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and as someone who has lived through breast cancer, I want to share some important information with you…
“Early Detection Can Save Lives”
Kris Hallenga
Last week, I organised a Breast Cancer Awareness session!
This came about because I’ve waffled on quite a lot about my own breast cancer diagnosis; my experience, what I’ve learned, my treatment… and so much more!
And one of my good friends, (who has probably borne the brunt of it), said her work were looking for guest speakers to visit and talk about different topics, and she thought people would be interested in hearing my story - would I be willing to do this?
ABSOLUTELY! This is my passion! This is what makes me feel alive!
Our Power Lies In Education And Awareness.
If we are educated and more aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer, we are much more likely to spot it early!
Now, I could only speak from my own personal experience and I thought it would be hugely beneficial to co-host this session with some experts who actually know what they’re talking about!
So I contacted my local breast care unit and was joined by two of the most incredible and loveliest ‘b00bie-focussed’ individuals; Jackie, a lead breast care nurse and Karen, an advanced nurse practitioner.
It was a great session, full of information, curiosity and engagement, we had questions, suggestions and laughs!
We talked about what to look for, what to do if you are concerned or would like something checking, there were lots of information leaflets and even some ‘teaching aids’ (a.k.a. fake b00bies) because two things people are most curious about is how to check and what a lump actually feels like…
The Key Points
If there’s one thing I’ve learnt since my own experience, it’s that there’s a whole multitude of varying factors involved with a breast cancer diagnosis!
From stage and grade, to how and where it develops; from whether it’s hormone receptive to realising that there is more than one type of breast cancer!
But I also learned a lot from this session, including, why women are only offered routine mammograms over the age of 50, and this is because post-menopause, the density of breast tissue reduces, so mammograms are more effective at identifying lumps or areas that require further investigation.
Pre-menopause, the breast tissue is likely to be denser, making it more difficult for changes to be spotted on mammograms. This does not mean that mammograms are not worth having below 50, just that it’s not an efficient method of routine screening.
So please, check your chest regularly!
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS IS GETTING TO KNOW WHAT IS NORMAL FOR YOU!
That way you are more likely to notice any changes and get them checked out.
How to check
Check at least once a month!
Ladies, if you have regular periods, it’s best not to check during your period, but ideally a week after.If you don’t have periods, then choose the first or last day of the month.
Why not set a reminder on your phone so you automatically get prompted.
You can also sign up for a reminder service with CoppaFeel, either text, email or calendar alert, and they have some great tutorial videos to help you with How To Self-Check.(And yeah I know it can feel like another thing on your already packed to-do list, but it should be a non-negotiable, a part of your normal routine, because it could end up saving your life one day!)
Look
Look in the mirror for any visible changes, e.g. change in shape, size, indentations, texture of the skin, like stippling or dimpling, and don’t forget your nipples; nipple direction, nipple inversion, rashes or nipple discharge (without squeezing - please do not have a squeeze to check!)
We’re looking for anything different or unusual.
Feel
Can you feel any lumps or thickening that are new.
Ladies, I’m sure you’ll agree that our b00bs are lumpy little (or big) thingamajigs, so it’s about getting to know what is normal for YOU, and then noticing anything that’s changed. That’s why it’s so important to check regularly.Ideally, check lying down, with firm but gentle pressure with the flats of your fingers, run them across and over the breast area, and all the way up to the collarbone.
Lumps
Breast lumps are fairly common; a lot of the time, they turn out to be nothing, however, the risk of a lump being cancerous increases with age, from 0.49% in our 30s to 3.5% in our 60s. But there is always a risk, so getting checked can lead to early detection!Lumps can be smooth or irregular, mobile or immobile, so it’s best to get any new lumps checked.
Pain
Finally, sometimes we can experience pain in our b00bs, and this on its own is not usually concerning, but with other symptoms it’s definitely worth getting it checked out.
Breast cancer does not discriminate
It can happen at any age, to anybody!
Yes, even you men! Although the figures are very low, less than 1%, men do have a small amount of breast tissue so any changes or lumps are still worth checking for!
What to do if you find something you’re concerned about?
So, if you are worried and want something checked out, your first call is to go to your GP. They can check it for you and if they feel it’s worth further investigation they will refer you to the breast unit.
If, though, your doctor suggests there’s nothing wrong, and you’re still concerned, or you know this is not normal for YOU, it’s OK to get a second opinion and ask to see a different doctor.
If you are referred to the breast unit, you’ll receive an appointment to see the breast care nurses and have some further checks done, which can include things like, a mammogram, ultrasound scan, a biopsy and being seen by a specialist doctor.
The team at the breast units are always happy to check you over, and please, you should never feel like you’ve wasted their time, or feel ‘bad’ if you do get checked out and there’s nothing wrong – I’ve been there! A few years ago I found a lump, had it checked and it was nothing, and let me tell you, I would take the false alarm every time over the confirmation that I was right to get it checked!
At the end of the day, this is you looking after yourself and taking responsibility for your own health.
Mammograms aren’t scary
I’ve had two mammograms now and have to be honest, personally, they do not bother me at all – they are much less daunting than the ‘joyous’ cervical smear we ladies have to undergo, but are just as important!
So, if you’re intrigued by what it’s like, let me share my experience with you: When you go in for a mammogram, you undress from the waist up, stand in front of a large machine and your breasts are positioned between two large plastic plates, which apply some pressure so that a clear photograph can be taken of the breast tissue. Then the machine is rotated slightly and another photo is taken from a slightly different angle.
For me, the worst part is where to position my long, gangly arms so they’re out of the way! But it was quick, painless, and literally only takes minutes.
You can find out more about mammograms on the NHS site here.
Be the Change
I know this is a heavy topic, and I’m not trying to scare you here, but cancer is real, and the more aware and educated we are, the better prepared we are to recognise and detect it early.
Unfortunately, it has been reported that only half of the people who notice any new or unusual changes to their breasts will go to their GP about it, and the percentage of women doing regular self-checks seems to be dropping [Breast Cancer Now], as well as the number of women attending their routine mammograms.
Please do not be one of these statistics; BE THE CHANGE!
I’m going to leave you with this catchy, yet crucial motto I heard recently:
“If in doubt, get it checked out!”🍒
Take care & much love,
Julie x
If you would like to read more about my diagnosis and how I coped with it, including, the GOOD things that can come from a bad situation, and throwing a PARTY with a difference(!!) then check out my post:
CoppaFeel is an incredible charity with an abundance of information, support and ‘fun about feeling’!
Read about the amazing life-saving work they’re doing, and hear Kris Hallenga’s (founder of CoppaFeel) incredibly inspiring story.
Macmillan is the UK’s leading cancer support charity. They have support helplines, online chat, community support and more.
Breast Cancer Now offers information and support for spotting the signs of breast cancer, as well as diagnosis, through treatment, and even local events.
Feel free to get in touch, I’d love to hear from you 💗
This is great Jules, thanks for sharing x