Are you taking responsibility for your breast health….. really?

October 6, 2011 By: Lynne Brick

Do you perform your self breast exams every month? Really? Do you follow a specific recommended sequence for your SBE? Really? Are you taking responsibility to be 100% accountable for your breast health? Really?

One of our Brick Bodies group exercise instructors, who is one of my heroes, Erica Rimlinger, discovered a lump. She had just finished teaching a BodyPump class and massaged her sore chest. She originally thought what she was feeling was muscular. However, a thorough exam and biopsy revealed she had stage II breast cancer. Erica is an incredibly brave, beautiful and strong woman who has inspired so many women with her journey. Erica’s amazing attitude, joie de vivre and lifestyle choices truly helped her become cancer free.

Erica was keenly aware of her body. She noticed and she took action.

Are you keenly aware?

SBE’s or self breast exams help you become keenly aware and are recommended to be done monthly in this sequence:

Step 1: Stand in front of a mirror. Place your hands on your hips and thoroughly look at your breasts.

Step 2: Continue looking in the mirror. Raise your arms overhead and check your entire breast and nipples for any changes in color, size (i.e. swelling) contour or dimpling. It is normal to have asymmetrical breasts. What is not normal is changes in what you see every month.

Step 3: Use your finger pads and press firmly on your breast, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Move around your breast in a circular, up-and-down, or wedge pattern. Remember to use the same method every month. And be sure to check both breasts.

Step 4: Gently squeeze each nipple and assess and report any discharge to your doctor STAT!

Step 5: Lie down and examine your right breast, by placing a pillow under your right shoulder and your right hand behind your head. Use your finger pads to press firmly and check your entire breast and armpit area. Use the same pattern you used while standing. Repeat for your left breast.

Additionally, you can minimize your risk as well as prevent breast cancer in the following ways: maintain a healthy weight (excess body weight can alter your estrogen levels), exercise 6 days a week, minimize hormone therapy, limit pesticides and antibiotic use and limit the use of alcohol to less than one drink a day.