For those that do not know October is Breast Cancer
Awareness month. You may have noticed the color pink is everywhere to raise awareness.
This post is dedicated to the importance of performing self checks as well as a
personal story about self checks.
One of the most important, yet lesser used methods of
being/staying healthy is preventative measures. Screening tests fall under this
group. If there is an issue, it is best caught early. Although you are not a
healthcare professional you can always perform a self breast exam. In fact you
should be very familiar with your own body so that you can know when something
is not as it normally is. This site gives you information on doing your own
self breast exam from the National Breast Cancer Foundation.
Personal story time: In college I randomly performed an exam
on myself; at that point I had been doing them sporadically. This particular
day I found a lump in my breast. I was very distraught and I began thinking the
worst. I called my mom and arranged to go to my doctor at home for an exam the
following week. After my exam with my doctor I was sent to have an ultrasound
done which helps to identify the type of tissue. After my ultrasound I found
out that I had a fibroadenoma. A fibroadenoma is a noncancerous breast tumor
that often appears in women under 30. My
fibroadenoma went away soon after that, but this is an experience I will not forget.
I was anxious and afraid during this process. This is nothing close to the experience women who
are diagnosed with breast cancer endure, merely a glimpse. This really opened my eyes to the support
and the love that needs to be bestowed upon those dealing with this horrible
disease and cancer in general. The following is not an original image/graphic.
-XOXO
-XOXO
I remember this time also, I prayed and asked the Lord that the tumor not be cancer. I am telling you this was an experience that keeps you on your toes about your health. Continue to make people aware of these and other health issues. Thanks
ReplyDeleteThank you mom! Love you
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