Making Lemonade Out Of Lemons: Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Listen up ladies and gentlemen, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and breast cancer is no joke. The screening, the preventions, the diagnoses, the treatments are intense and not much fun. 

However humor is healing. So why not make lemonade out of lemons: the self breast exam edition.

Your first line of defense against breast cancer is you. Know your body and check your body.

I know you are busy being a mom and a million other roles and finding ten minutes twice a month is no easy feat especially to do something that isn’t always pleasant and reminds you of how fragile life can be- does not sound like much fun.

That’s why it is a lemon in life. But here are some ways to make it feel more like a lemonade:

1. Get an app such as PC (Period Calendar) it will remind you with a cute ironic character when your period is, when you are ovulating, and when it is time for a breast exam. And by ironic I mean when I think of my period coming I don’t relate it to a sweet cartoon baby zebra…it’s more of a rabid lion or demon monster. So the zebra makes me giggle.
2. Create a reward system. It doesn’t have to be a sticker chart like you have for your 4-year-old unless that floats your boat, but schedule a special treat that you will not have until the deed is done.  Maybe it’s opening your favorite bottle of wine, having a girls night out, or a pastry from your favorite overpriced spot.
3. It helps to relax. Find a time when you can take a relaxing bath or a hot shower then lay on your bed and exam away. This will help relax your muscles which makes for a better exam and it’s good for your mind as well. Tell your spouse it’s part of you staying healthy so it must be done!
4. Make Self Breast Exam day a date night. That’s right you heard me. Turn self breast exam into couple’s breast exam. Take something serious and important and make it fun and exciting. Think about it: who knows your breasts better than you? Probably your partner.  They will be able to keep an eye out for changes.  You have heard the term two heads are better than one? Well in this case, two sets of hands…. And reciprocate, whether your partner is a man or a woman. Breast cancer can cross gender, so why not?

If you don’t know how to do a self breast exam please educate yourself. Wait, you don’t have time to find out how to educate yourself? Don’t worry I’m a busy mom too I gotchu. Click here!

For everything you ever wanted to know about breast cancer here are some helpful sites: 

www.breastcancer.org

www.nationalbreastcancer.org

Seriously ladies. Whatever it takes to make self exam a priority, you can save your life!

I have two friends who in their early thirties felt something that wasn’t right. They followed their gut, advocated for themselves, and got checked out. Both had aggressive breast cancer and after a year of surgeries and treatments both are currently Breast Cancer Survivors. 

You owe this to yourself and you owe it to your children.

Be your own best champion. Your life matters. Woman Power! 

I hope you find a way to champion to turn all the lemons in your life into lemonade.