Pink! It’s everywhere this month to remind us of Breast Cancer Awareness Month. From the pink of the NFL players’ shoes and the proliferation of pink products in the stores to the Awareness walks all over the country, it is hard not to realize that this month is a special one in the lives of those affected by breast cancer.

Today’s topic will be a little bit different than usual, but it will still be an important part of “Awareness” ! One area of early detection that is essential for women is breast self exam.   (And also for men — it’s not often talked about, but men can develop breast cancer too. My neighbor’s husband died from male breast cancer that was detected too late for successful treatment.)  I cannot stress the importance of this enough, because my own breast cancer was not detected by mammogram. I found the lump myself during my own monthly self exam. Because I had previously been diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease early in my 20′s, it became essential for me to be able to recognize the changes from month to month in order to know what might need a biopsy.After years of self exams, I knew immediately that this lump was different. Unfortunately, I was right, and it turned out to be cancer. But my self screening allowed me to find it in the early stages, which turned out to be a real blessing because it was a particularly aggressive form of breast cancer and a delay in diagnosis could have made for a much poorer prognosis and outcome. And, here I am today, more than 10 years later, well and cancer free.

After I was diagnosed and was in treatment, I started a support group for younger women coping with breast cancer while raising families. I was surprised how many younger women found their cancer through their regular breast exams, not traditional mammogram screening, because many had not yet reached the age that mammograms were suggested. These self exams saved all of their lives. When we consider that 1 in every 8 women will have breast cancer in their lifetime, it really brings home the necessity to become familiar with our own bodies and to take note of any changes and bring these up to our doctors for further testing. Early detection saves lives!

If you do not know how to do a breast self exam, go to the website of the American Cancer Society and follow the simple instructions. And then, do it the same part of the month every month after that! With knowledge, we become stronger, and when we are strong, we can fight anything. Tell your sisters, your friends, your mother, your daughters. Know your own body. Save your own life.