Its Breast Cancer Awareness Month and maybe the only time I can use a blog title like Touch Yourself without losing my lovely readers.
I'm going to step up on my soap box and remind all of you about the importance of the Self Breast Exam. It is so important to learn what your breasts feel like and what is normal for you so you can indentify any changes.
I'm going to remind you that I was diagnosed with breast cancer at the age of 27. That is 13 years before mammogram age. I would have been long dead by 40 had my cancer not been found. I am alive because a lovely doctor felt a lump in my breast during an exam. I did not find it because frankly, I wasn't doing regular breast exams.
Don't rely on luck. Be proactive. Give yourself an exam. Let your partner give you an exam. Let a stranger... dear God, I'm only kidding, although I am sure you would get some volunteers. Please don't be telling your other half I sent you out to the streets to get felt up.
This page here has information on how to do self breast exams among other bits of info. Take the quiz and test your BC knowledge!
Please also know that only 5-10% of breast cancer comes from the hereditary genes. The other 90-95% of us just get it without rhyme or reason. Women get it, men get it, people of all ages get it. So spread the word and encourage the people you love to be proactive!
That being said, if you do feel a lump don't freak out. The vast majority of lumps found are absolutely nothing. I know so many women who felt a lump or had mammos or bibopsies :) that ended up being nothing. The point is that they checked it out. If you would like more information about finding a lump go here.
Also, if ever you need someone to talk to about any of this please don't hesitate to email me. I am not a doctor and I can only speak from my experience but I promise to give you nothing but honest answers or a listening ear.
Now go touch yourselves! Oh, and tell your friends to touch themselves too!
Yes Ma'am, will do! In honor of you and of my friend Michelle who was diagnosed at age 33 BECAUSE she did her self-exam and found a lump that the doctor said was probably nothing but that wasn't. She found someone who would listen and she is still with us today.
ReplyDeleteOK. Now you've got me humming that stupid song! Gee thanks. I'm sure my sophomores are going to think I've flipped out if I am singing that song. (In fact, most of them have probably never heard of it--and that may be a good thing.)
ReplyDeleteYou don't happen to have one of those T-shirts that says "Save Second Base," do you??
Thanks for the reminder!!
Absolutely the right thing to do!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder, Dandy!!
Thanks my lovely Dandy. I hope you don't mind - I've linked to this post as my facebook status. xxx
ReplyDeleteOh Dawn, I just have to say I love your countdown til B's dreams come true! I am really glad you posted this it's a great reminder to be aware and proactive about our health. Did you see the cowgirl cookies on bakerella using the pink m&m's for breast cancer month? They scream Dandy to me! Have a wonderful day.
ReplyDeleteYou know, you're just great! I've never personally known someone with breast cancer, but reading your blog really inspires me to be healthier :) Thank you for these posts!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. I really should be better at it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wonderful post. You amaze me. My brother's wife lost her first husband to breast cancer so it can strike anyone.
ReplyDeleteTake Care and have an incredible week!!! Oh, can I post a link to your blog post on my blog?
All links are more than welcome! Thanks everybody!
ReplyDeleteThanks to you, I touch myself on a regular basis.
ReplyDeleteSounds wrong, but you know what I mean!
You've inspired me to be much more proactive about breast health, and for that I thank you.
*hugs* Also, if I've never mentioned it, I'm glad you're okay.
Thanks for the great reminder Dandy! Just so you know, I did a self exam WHILE reading your post. That's how helpful you are! :o)
ReplyDeleteElle
These are some great tips. I especially love the one about not freaking out. I too, found an unusual lump and had my doctor check it out, she ordered an immediate Mammogram and it turned out just to be a cyst!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter just came home from school yesterday and told me that her track coach found out that she has breast cancer.
So please pray for Janelle Smith for early detection and complete survival.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
I think this is a wonderful reminder for all of us, Dandy!!!! Thank you so much!
ReplyDeleteI love that you wrote this reminder without being all 'doom and gloom'. Because obviously, we're all a bit scared of the C word. But you've given us a sweet, funny kick in the pants. Which I needed. I'm 27...it's time I stop pretending I'm invincible.
ReplyDeletegreat reminder and post!! i'm sooooo glad that your Dr. found it for you and that you are OK! You are a survivor!!!!
ReplyDeletePS-A title like Touch Yourself I would think would GET you more readers. I mean, my first thought was the song.....haha
Perfect post Dandy, so important....so so so important! Thank you, off to touch myself! ha! too funny..
ReplyDeleteI was JUST thinking about this today. And thinking about you, and wondering what type of cancer you had, and would it be really invasive of me to ask etc.... thanks for solving that for me girl.
ReplyDeleteThis is a really good reminder, and I don't do self checks hardly EVER.
Also, I'm sorry to say that your title made me click over right away. That is the person I am. I apologize. Curiosity killed the Lemonade Makin' Mama? Also... I have that song, "When I think about you, I touch myself.." No idea the title. Again, who I am.
I mean I have that song IN MY HEAD, not "I have that song." Ewww. that song is nasty.
ReplyDeleteYou've just given the phrase "when i think about you, i touch myself" an entirely new, and frankly, better meaning! Thanks for the reminder!
ReplyDeleteTHANKS FOR STOPPING BY MY BLOG. I AM FOLLOWING YOU KNOW, MY BEST FRIEND DIED AT 31 FROM BREAST CANCER. I LOVE THIS POST.
ReplyDeleteWonderful post!! And thanks for the reminder. I'm so very thankful that you're okay. If I haven't mentioned it before :) -Tammy
ReplyDeleteDandy, thanks so much for stopping by my blog today! I see you're going to be a bride. I'm helping my daughter plan her wedding (next July). What a fun -- and busy -- time!
ReplyDeleteGood post and reminder. I get my mammograms now as I should, but I forget about the self exams...
Yep, I'm singing it too, I Touch Myself by the Divinyls (sp?). Why does my mind remember such weird obscure things like that and then lets me forget my purse at church tonight? I do remember to do the breast self exam though. Good reminder and so glad you're putting the word out.
ReplyDeleteThat certainly is an eye-catcher of a title. I love your honesty!! And the matter-of-factness.
ReplyDeleteLove it! That is a soap box you have earned! My sister was diagnosed at 25 and found her lump from a BSE. Preach it!
ReplyDeleteI never would have thought to start doing that-I'll be 25 in a month. I assume that I'm invincible and cancer only "gets" other people.
ReplyDeleteI just read a ton of your blog-LOVED the shower!!! What a cute theme. ARen't ladies from that era ever so classy?
I have 4 sugar gliders-they're like flying squirrels. They're actually not squirrels, they're marsupials ... and before we cut the Dad's nuts off he fathered two babies. Which is why we have 4 now. THey're a lot of fun.
I go tomorrow for my mamo. I have had a couple of lumps taken out before. One was at 23 yrs. old and the other one was a couple of years ago. I am 41 yrs. old and have been having mamograms for years now.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder!
ReplyDelete