Breast Self-Exam
Well, my 22 year old daughter had her SECOND BREAST LUMP removed 6 weeks ago and she is doing great. Her first one was removed 2 years ago and thank goodness both of her breast lumps were benign.
The reason for this blog is to stress the importance of breast self-exam (BSE) and for the following reasons: My daughter's first lump was found at her annual visit to our OBGYN when it was already the size of a plum! If this had been a malignancy, SIZE WOULD HAVE MATTERED! When she was asked if she performs regular, monthly BSE, her reply was typical of so many young women..."No, I don't know how or what I am looking for." She was told that had she been doing her BSE, she would have found this lump herself and at a much smaller size.
Now the reason I stressed "young women", is this: Women typically do not go for mammograms until they are 40 years of age (earlier with family history of breast cancer). Clinical breast-exams (CBE) happen every 1-3 years (if you go to the doctor regularly), so what options do our under 40's have? BSE is the most simple and consistent means of getting to know what your own breast tissue feels like so that you can detect even the smallest of changes. For women over 40, BSE serves as the "glue" between annual mammograms and CBE.
What I am trying to say is this: DO REGULAR, MONTHLY BSE, BECAUSE EARLY DETECTION IS KEY TO SURVIVING BREAST CANCER!
For more information, please visit our website: www.bemitt.com to read, in more detail, our journey and how necessity was the mother of invention!
Comments
Thank you for sharing your story.
My daughter (24) has also been dealing with lumps in her breast since the first fibrous cyst was found when she was 17. Ever since, she has been conducting her SBE regularly, and has to have a mammogram done annually.
We have no history of breast cancer on either side of our family, so this all came as quite a surprise. You are absolutely right that all women need to conduct their own SBE - before it becomes too late.
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