FABULOUS BOOBIES..THERE IS HOPE BEYOND BREAST CANCER

The month of pink...

October couldn't go without me talking about it... It has not been a month I would fancy a repeat of like I would September, but it's okay. Such is life, even better because that's not what this blog is about.
Today I want to talk about the epidemic that has the whole world painted pink this month, the one that contributes 23.3% annual deaths in Kenya....Breast Cancer Ladies and Gentlemen!

The misconception of the disease is that it only affects women, but the truth is that men can also get breast cancer! It is recommended that if you are at the age of 40  years and beyond you should go for screening and continue doing so annually for as long as you are in good health, if you are in your 20s -30s get Clinical Breast Exam (CBE) done by a health-care professional every 3 years and Self Breast Exam(SBE) which girls getting to their 20s can do basically from anywhere as long as no one is watching but for decency purposes, do it in the comfort of your house preferably when taking a shower because its easy to feel your breasts when your skin is wet and slippery..

3 Steps of Self Breast Exam(SBE) that I would recommend every woman to do;

1. Stand in front of a mirror with your arms akimbo/lifted up and check that your breasts are in their usual size, shape and color.

2. Check out for inverted nipples or if there is any fluid coming out of the nipples,

3. While standing, lift up your left hand and use your right hand finger tips to feel your left breast in circular motion or up and down vertically and cover your entire breast. Use the same procedure for your right breast.

If  you notice some redness on the breast, or if your breast feels sore, swollen or has visible distortion bring it to the attention of your doctor.

NB//::

• You can ask your significant other to help in the observation following the steps i have given above especially step 3 and for step 1 and 2, he can be your mirror. *wink *wink.

• Note that it's good and important to be familiar with how normally your breast looks and feels as this will help you see and feel changes when they happen.

My Take

Well, they say if you are not infected, you are affected. If you do not have it you know someone who has it or know someone who has a relative who has it.. Let's show love and support to those going through the treatment and also to those with relatives who have cancer. Let them know that you care... Yes most often there is little you can do, sometimes you can even run out of words, which is okay because actually sometimes no words are needed.

Emotional help in this case comes in very handy. Be available to listen, cry with them, laugh with them and just be yourself.
If it is a situation where this person is a colleague at work, find out if they are okay with the other colleagues finding out, treat them normally but also make them know that you understand that they are working in a challenging situation and keep asking how they are feeling as much as this might be difficult because you don't want to be the one who asks things that they might like to keep behind them. This will show them that there is someone who is concerned for them.

And most Importantly, keep PRAYING for them for Renewal of their Strength, Faith and Voracious Will to Live.

My Bible.

 I am no Health-care Professional, neither am I a specialist, but I thought that it is good to share the little I know. You can also click here for more info about breast cancer . To conclude, I salute all fighting the disease and those who survived not only breast cancer but any other kind of cancer. Soldier on and be Strong because there is hope beyond Breast cancer.

NyaKenya Wairimu