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1st Friend for Life |
1st Friend for Life
Can a friend save your life? Can you save a friend's life, or your mother's, or your sister's?
Breast cancer is the leading cancer site among American women and is second only to lung cancer in cancer deaths, and it is something women cannot ignore. This year in the United States , 212,920 women and 1,720 men will be diagnosed with breast cancer and 40,970 women and 460 men will die from the disease. When breast cancer is found early (and confined to the breast), your chances for survival are the greatest. Early detection is key to curing this disease.
When it comes to fighting breast cancer, catching it early saves lives. That's why WHO TV 13 and the John Stoddard Cancer Center at Iowa Methodist Medical Center invite you to become a "1st Friend for Life." On the 1st of every month WHO TV 13 and the John Stoddard Cancer Center will bring you a "1st Friend for Life" reminder to perform your self breast exam and call your friend for life to remind her to do the same sometime during the month.
Become a "1st Friend for Life"
- Choose a friend - your mother, daughter, sister or a pal.
- Agree to be 1st Friends for Life. - On the 1st day of each month remind your friend to do her monthly self breast examination checking for unusual changes or lumps - and remember to do your monthly exam, too. (See Steps to Breast Self-Examination below for the best time of the month to perform the exam).
- Check with your friend each month to be sure she does her breast self-exam.
- Remind your friend to have a yearly physical and mammogram if appropriate.
- Most importantly, focus on living life to the fullest, being the best possible mom, sister, wife, daughter and friend.
NOTE: Women who practice breast self-exams as a method of screening should be sure that they also get the recommended clinical breast exam and mammogram. You should not substitute breast self-exam for other recommended screenings. Be sure to continue to see your healthcare provider on an annual basis.
Steps to Breast Self-Examination
By regularly examining her own breasts, a woman is likely to notice any changes that occur. The best time for breast self-examination (BSE) is just as your period ends when your breasts are not tender or swollen. If you are not having regular periods, do BSE on the same day every month. Check for any change in the normal look or feel of your breasts. Go for regular breast exams and ask about a mammogram.
Step One: Lying Down
- Feel for a hard lump, thickening or any change in your breast tissue.
- Lie down on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder
- Use the pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to examine your right breast
- Press using light, medium and firm pressure in a circular motion
- Follow an up and down pattern
- Feel for changes in your breast, above and below your collarbone and in your armpit area
- Repeat on your left breast using your right hand.
Step Two: In Front of the Mirror
Look for changes in the shape, size or appearance of your breasts. Look for dimpling, rash or puckering of the skin or nipple, nipple discharge or any change from normal.
Inspect your breasts in four steps:
- Hold arms at your sides
- Hold arms over your head
- Press your hands on your hips to tighten your chest muscles
- Bend forward with your hands on your hips.
