In honour of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we have joined forces with the charity Prevent Breast Cancer, to empower women everywhere to take charge of their breast health. Breast cancer is sadly the most common cancer in the UK, despite it being a rare disease in men. Every year, over 55,900 individuals are diagnosed, and each year we devastatingly lose around 11,500 to this disease. We aim to make breast checks part of everyones routine and believe one of the best times to do this is when we wash.
Making Health Checks Your New Routine:
As October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are thrilled to work alongside the inspiring team at Prevent Breast Cancer to help spread awareness about the importance of breast health and encourage people to carry out regular breast health checks.
Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer that affects women all around the world. It's crucial to take steps towards early detection and prevention, which is why we encourage everyone to learn about breast health and get regular check-ups. Throughout this month, we encourage you to take some time to learn about breast health and how to reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. You can start by doing self-examinations regularly and getting mammograms done as recommended by your doctor. Additionally, you can also make lifestyle changes that can lower your risk, such as maintaining a healthy diet and exercise routine. Let's work together to spread awareness about breast health and make a difference in the lives of those affected by breast cancer. Remember, prevention is key, and early detection can save lives.
Prevent Breast Cancer is passionate about sharing the message of positive breast health and educating people about the importance of frequent health checks. They advise you to check your breasts both regularly and thoroughly at least once a month. By checking regularly, you will get to know your normal and spot anything unusual straight away. Breasts change at different times of the month so the ideal time to check is just after your period. If you don’t menstruate, checking once a month at any time is fine.
Checking With Friendly Soap
Together, with Prevent Breast Cancer, we are encouraging women to carry out their breast checks as part of their shower or wash routine. Using soapy hands as part of your breast check ritual makes it easier for the hand to glide over the skin helping us become more familiar with our breasts' normal texture and appearance. This also adds a comforting and practical element to this essential habit. Watch this video which demonstrates how to use soap as part of your routine breast health check.
As part of our partnership, we will be including instructional leaflets inside all of our online orders which demonstrate how to properly check for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and raise awareness of the importance of early detection. Together, we aim to educate and empower individuals to take charge of their health.
We are also co-hosting a special giveaway, offering a delightful hamper featuring a selection of our natural soap bars and eco-bathroom accessories, 12 bars of luxury vegan chocolate bars provided by Otherly, as well as a goodie bag from Prevent Breast Cancer.
Signs and Symptoms
Breast cancer can have several signs and symptoms, but for many women, it will appear as a lump or thickening in the breast tissue. This may be found in the breast itself, upper chest or armpit. It’s important to note here that many breast lumps are non-cancerous and caused by normal tissue changes.
During your self-check, be on the lookout for other signs and symptoms, such as a rash or redness that doesn't go away, unexplained swelling or thickening, or any unusual nipple discharge. Remember, our bodies communicate in different ways, so it's important to pay attention to these potential warning signs.
Breast cancer can affect anyone who has even a small amount of breast tissue, this includes cis men, transgender women, transgender men, non-binary and gender diverse individuals.
The signs and symptoms present similarly to those in cis women. If a person has had top surgery (also called gender-affirming mastectomies) the signs and symptoms may present more like those in cis men. Please visit the Prevent Breast Cancer website for further information on chest awareness for people who are transgender, non-binary and gender diverse.
Watch here for an in depth video from Prevent Breast Cancer on how to carry out a thorough breast health check
Creating New Habits For Your Health:
Performing a self-breast check doesn't have to be overwhelming. Start by standing in front of a mirror and observing any changes in size, shape, or skin texture. Raise your arms and check for dimpling, puckering, or nipple changes. Then, in the shower, apply soap and use the pads of your fingertips to gently explore your breasts. Imagine your breast is a clock face and gently press and move around the breast tissue in small circular motions across the entire breast. Feel all around the breast, including under your arm, around to the side of your chest and underneath where the underwire of your bra would sit at the bottom and side of the breast. Make sure you check higher up above your breast, as the ‘tail’ of the breast reaches up here as well.
The goal of self-breast checks is to empower early detection. By using soap, you amplify the effectiveness of your checks, enabling you to identify potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer and seek medical advice promptly. By getting to know how your breasts usually look and feel, it will make it easier to spot anything unusual.
Detecting breast cancer in its early stages significantly improves treatment outcomes and enhances your chances of a positive prognosis.
Embracing the Power of Awareness
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of awareness. It's time to openly discuss self-breast checks with our loved ones, friends, and communities. By sharing knowledge, we empower ourselves and those around us, creating a culture where breast health is a priority and early detection becomes more commonplace.
Breast cancer does not discriminate and it's our responsibility to challenge this and ensure that everyone has the knowledge and tools to prioritise their breast health. By having open conversations, we can dispel fear and misconceptions, replacing them with a strong foundation of awareness and empowerment.
Sharing our own experiences and insights regarding self-breast checks can inspire others to take control of their health and well-being. It creates a safe space where questions can be asked, concerns can be addressed, and support can be offered. Together, we can build a supportive network that encourages women to make regular self-breast checks a part of their overall health routine.
Remember, knowledge is power, and by normalising self-breast checks, we can save lives and create a brighter, healthier future for all.
Let's take a moment to celebrate ourselves and our breast health. Prevent Breast Cancer, with the support of Friendly Soap, encourages you to embrace your power within by performing self-breast checks during your shower routine. Let's make self-checks a part of our everyday lives, empowering ourselves and our communities with knowledge, awareness, and a deep sense of self-care. So, grab that soap, lather up, and let's embrace the power within our own hands for a future of empowered breast health.