encourage women to do monthly breast self-exams

A friend of mine wanted us (our friends) to do this very thing. She wanted to save at least one person the pain that she went through. Early detection is so important.

I think peppermintcream has a good idea there. Let’s invite more people.

New Zealand has an incredibly high rate of breast cancer , public health initiatives aid in getting the word out about prevention , about womans health and about getting tested . Mamograms are free for those who are in the most risk ( age wise) but i myself am going to to do breast exams often from now on (21) and am seriously thinking of giving myself a mamogram for my birthday . I am going to be active in trying to get every woman i know to take the initiative and give them selves breast exams – and not take this goal off my list in the hope that someone sees this and reads it and it gives them initiative to start this themselves.

This isn’t the easiest thing for me to write!

Ladies – sisters – please don’t see this goal and go “yeah yeah” before skipping to something more interesting. Pause. If you’re at home, why not go and do this now. If that’s not possible, please please don’t just say “yeah, I’ll get round to it” but actually do a monthly self-exam.

Why? Because it’s important. Genuinely, life-savingly important. YOU need to know what’s normal for your breasts, YOU need to be aware if something changes. Don’t think of it as negativity, think of it as another step in a healthly lifestyle.

Oh, and you’re never too young. Think of this:

I was 22 when I found a lump in my own breast. That’s 30 years away from the UK screening program. But I found it, and I’m fine. Because I found it early enough, I’m bloody lucky enough to still have two breasts – and to be alive.

This isn’t meant as a scare story. I know how horrible it is to think about these things, sometimes. But make it part of your life. Heck – if you’re lucky enough to have someone who can help you examine your breasts… go for it! ;)

I don’t know anyone with breast cancer, but I understand that it’s very important to examine yourself regularly.

I don’t know how we want to go about encouraging others do examine themselves monthly, though…

the best way to do it would be to invite as many other people as i could to join the goal
wonder if it will work??
:)

i’ll certainly pass on the invites!