Get Your Head Out Of The Sand! Check The Girls!

By Sarah Trance MS, LMFT

As a counselor I am often a witness to the deep-seated fear of cancer, especially breast cancer in women. That’s not surprising: until recently, the diagnosis of cancer was almost always accompanied by a grim prognosis. Despite the leaps the medical community has made in diagnosing and treating many cancers, the ‘C’ word still sends a chill down our spines.
 
And here’s a paradox: despite the abundance of information and education on how to conduct breast self-exams and how to get tested, many of us still don’t…out of fear. For those of us with a higher risk of Breast Cancer, the fear-induced avoidance can become a self-fulfilling prophecy—creating the possibility for the very thing we are so afraid of.

Well, ladies, let’s kick this fear to the curb!  Let’s not let the Fear prevent us from being proactive, asking questions, giving ourselves exams and inquiring about lumps and irregularities. Early detection means giving yourself the greatest chance of survival and minimizing the disruption to your life. Stage 1 cancer has a 100% survival rate, Stage 2—93%, Stage 3—72%.

Self-Exams are our first line of defense!
It is easy to give ourselves breast exams  in the shower, before bed or even on our lunch break in the bathroom! Here’s a handy infographic from iHealth on how to do it.

You can also ask your OBGYN, PCP or local woman's health specialist to show you.
 
Here’s the most important thing: make breast self-exams a regular part of your self-care routine! Put it on your calendars, set reminders on your smart phones, pair it with another self-care activity so that it becomes routine.
 
Btw, why not have your partner help? That could be a good way to spice up any sex life.  (Wink, wink!)