October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Do you check your breasts each month? I would do it kind of now and again, not exactly every month or anything regular like that just when it popped in to my head in the shower that kind of thing. One day not so long ago I was laying on my bed with my left arm under my head chatting to Little Miss 4, just by chance I ran my right hand over my left arm down my arm pit a across the side of my left breast. Then I paused and realised what I had just felt, did it again, and felt it again, did it again and felt my stomach sink to the floor, that was a lump there was no two ways about it. I had just accidentally found a lump kind of in between my boob and my arm pit but it was a lump and it hadn’t been there before.
What did I do about it, get upset at the prospect of a lump means breast cancer, means losing a boob, means losing your life, means the kids wont have a Mum and on my crazy mind went. I felt that lump every day for three months, if I ignored it it wouldn’t exist right? Wrong. It didn’t go away nor did I stop stressing about it, but it was too real and I was too scared to get it checked because I had decided I’d rather not know. I’m not sure what made me snap out of it and get it checked but it was one of the scariest things I’ve ever done.
The Doctor examined me and could feel it too, she sent me for an ultrasound and that sent me in to a quiet panic. You don’t want to tell anyone as it’s so personal and if it’s a bad outcome then you also have to tell them that. I am glad to say I was one of the lucky ones, my lump was some nothing lump of calcium or some crap but it was a scary experience none the less. I am grateful my lump was nothing, and leaving it for 3 months was stupid because it’s early detection that increases the chances of survival. I have since learnt that 9 out of 10 lumps are usually nothing to worry about but here are some reasons to check your breasts and should you find anything why you need to get it checked:
- Everyday in Australia 30 women are diagnosed with breast cancer.
- Breast cancer is the most common form of cancer in women over 35, it makes up 29% of cancers diagnosed.
- 9 out of 10 women diagnosed have no family history.
So make sure you check your hooters each month and should you find anything be brave enough to get it checked don’t put your head in the sand like I did because early detection is the key with this one. All we can really do is check our breasts, act fast if you find anything and participate in fundraising events to raise money for research towards a possible cure.
You can do your bit by hosting a Pink Ribbon Breakfast Click Here For Info
Renee
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