This month and every month, let’s support the fighters; 💪💖the ones who struggle and show courage everyday.✨ We admire the survivors; those who won the battle. We honor the taken, those who fought to the end. But most of all, this month we want to celebrate those who never lose hope. 🤍🤍
One in every eight women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. It is very important that we learn to love and care for our bodies. ✨🤍 This month we want to encourage self-examination through some simple steps provided by breastcancer.org. Remember that early detection, saves lives.
Step 1: Examine your breasts in a mirror with hands on hips
Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
You should ensure to look for breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color as well as breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling.
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:
- Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
- A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
- Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
Step 2: Raise arms and examine your breasts
Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: Look for signs of breast fluid
While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Feel for breast lumps while lying down
Check for breast lumps or abnormalities by feeling your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast, and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Press down with your fingers and move them in a circular motion that’s about the size of a quarter (or an inch around).
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Feel your breasts for lumps while standing or sitting
Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.
A form of loving and caring is self-examination and prevention. Let’s bring awareness!✨🤍
For more information and resources about breast cancer, check out the links below!
www.breastcancer.org
www.cancer.org/cancer/breast-cancer.html
#BreastCancerMonth #CancerAwareness