Know Yourself

I had a bit of a scare recently. I have what I thought was a mole (among many) which I suddenly realised was showing several of the signs of being dodgy … ie potentially cancerous. As you can imagine this was a rather scary realisation. I went to the doctor and it turns out I’m lucky, it’s not dodgy and it’s not even a mole, it’s a kind of thing similar to a wart and is totally harmless. Sounds a bit gross, but really its no worse than having a mole and I have loads of them!

The reason I am telling you this is that we need to be careful … we need to know our bodies and get things checked when things aren’t right. The earlier cancer is found the more chance you have of surviving. In this case it wasn’t cancer but it could have been. Going to the doctor was terrifying as I’d looked on the internet and convinced myself that it was skin cancer … I nearly didn’t go as it was more pleasant to put my head in the sand and pretend nothing was happening. Imagine if I’d done that and it had been a dodgy mole … the cancer could have begun to spread. Lucky for me it wasn’t.

So please, dear readers, be aware of what is going on in your body, whether it be checking your boobs or moobs (breast cancer), dangly bits (testicular cancer), or moles (skin cancer) … and other kinds of things like noticing changes in your poo (bowel cancer). Now I’ve said all those words I dread to think what kind of searches will end up here, but still, its important! If you notice something that’s not right, get it checked – it may be nothing, but it may be something bad and catching it early could save your life.

Visit Cancer Research UK’s Spot Cancer Early page for more information on spotting signs of cancer early.

I dare to wear it pink

Today I have been mostly wearing pink … and looking rather foolish!

I am raising money for Breast Cancer Campaign by joining in with Wear it Pink. If you would like to donate to my fundraising, please go to http://www.justgiving.com/pinksuzy/ to donate online. Thank you

Me as a pink cowgirl before leaving the house

Later in the day, complete with my feather boa!

Gone Pink

As you may notice, unless you read this through a blog reader, I have gone pink. Well, my header image has. This is because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Also on 31st October, it is Wear it Pink day, organised by Breast Cancer Campaign, and work colleagues and I will be raising some money and wearing some pink. I am contemplating the precise degree of pink I will be wearing … it has to be a bit more than a pink top or something, because I often wear a pink top or cardi etc. So it may be a pink outfit from years gone by … last year it was the Pink Panther suit, and the year before the pink fairy dress … we’ll see.

Anyway – back to the point, which is awareness … if you’re a woman, please remember to regularly check your breasts – if you find anything unusual go and see a doctor straight away … if you are a man remind your wife/girlfriend/sister/mum/daughter … and of course if you feel a lump in your partner/wife/girlfriend’s breast, make sure she gets it checked out.

Here’s what Breast Cancer Campaign have to say about being breast aware:

Being breast aware

To be breast aware means becoming familiar with how your breasts look and feel, whatever your age. Understand how your breasts may change at different times during the month (when you’re having your period) and as you get older.

These are the changes to look for and if you are in any doubt, visit your doctor:

• A lump or thickening which is different to the rest of the breast tissue
• Continuous pain in one part of the breast or armpit
• One breast becomes larger or lower
• A nipple becomes inverted or changes shape or position
• Skin changes including puckering or dimpling
• Swelling under the armpit or around the collarbone
• A rash on or around the nipple
• Discharge from one or both nipples

Remember the breast awareness five-point code:

1. Know what is normal for you
2. Look and feel
3. Know what changes to look for
4. Report any changes without delay
5. Attend routine breast screening if you are aged 50 and over

from: http://www.breastcancercampaign.org/breastcancer/aware/