Lather Up For Breast Cancer Awareness Month
We’re delighted to announce our charity partnership with Friendly Soap this October for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. So grab that soap, lather up, and let’s embrace the power within our own hands for a future of empowered breast health.
Why are we partnering with Friendly Soap?
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a prime time for us to come together with other organisations to promote the importance of being breast cancer aware, far and wide. This year we’ve discovered a much-welcome ally in the eco-conscious soap company, Friendly Soap.
Together, we aim to make checking yourself for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer part of everyone’s routine and, seeing as one of the best times to check yourself is when you’re lathered up in the shower, partnering with Friendly Soap jumped out as a natural collaboration!
When is the best time to check yourself?
At Prevent Breast Cancer, we advise you to check your breasts both regularly and thoroughly at least once a month. By checking regularly, you will get to know your normal and spot anything unusual straight away. Breasts change at different times of the month and so the ideal time to check is just after your period. If you don’t menstruate, checking once a month at any time is fine.
Together, with Friendly Soap, we are encouraging women to carry out their breast checks as part of their shower routine. Using soapy hands as part of your breast check ritual makes it easier for the hand to glide over the skin helping us become more familiar with our breasts’ normal texture and appearance. This also adds a comforting and practical element to this essential habit.
How can I check for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer in the shower?
Performing a self-breast check doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Start by standing in front of a mirror and observing any changes in size, shape, or skin texture. Raise your arms and check for dimpling, puckering, or nipple changes. Then, in the shower, apply soap and use the pads of your fingertips to gently explore your breasts. Imagine your breast is a clock face and gently press and move around the breast tissue in small circular motions across the entire breast. Feel all around the breast, including under your arm, around to the side of your chest and underneath where the underwire of your bra would sit at the bottom and side of the breast. Make sure you check higher up above your breast, as the ‘tail’ of the breast reaches up here as well.
The goal of self-breast checks is to empower early detection. By using soap, you amplify the effectiveness of your checks, enabling you to identify potential signs and symptoms of breast cancer and seek medical advice promptly. By getting to know how your breasts usually look and feel, it will make it easier to spot anything unusual.
Detecting breast cancer in its early stages significantly improves treatment outcomes and enhances your chances of a positive prognosis.
Where can I purchase a Friendly Soap to support Prevent Breast Cancer?
When you purchase a Friendly Soap from Prevent Breast Cancer’s online charity shop at least £1 will support our vital work into preventing the disease for future generations. All soap purchases made directly through Friendly Soap’s website will include an instructional leaflet during October. The leaflet demonstrates how to properly check for the signs and symptoms of breast cancer and raise awareness of the importance of early detection.
How do I enter your giveaway competition?
We are also co-hosting a special giveaway, offering a delightful hamper featuring Friendly Soap’s beautifully handcrafted eco soap bars, 12 bars of luxury vegan chocolate bars provided by Otherly, as well as a goodie bag from Prevent Breast Cancer. Follow the instructions below to enter.
What are the Signs and Symptoms of breast cancer?
The earlier breast cancer is found, the better the chance of beating it. Breast cancer can affect anyone who has even a small amount of breast tissue. Below you can see how signs and symptoms can appear in the female anatomy, but we also have information available on how breast cancer appears in men and transgender chest awareness.
Breast cancer can have several signs and symptoms, but for many women, it will appear as a lump or thickening in the breast tissue. This may be found in the breast itself, upper chest or armpit. It’s important to note here that many breast lumps are non-cancerous and caused by normal tissue changes.
During your self-check, be on the lookout for other signs and symptoms, such as a rash or redness that doesn’t go away, unexplained swelling or thickening, or any unusual nipple discharge. Remember, our bodies communicate in different ways, so it’s important to pay attention to these potential warning signs. If you have any concerns, please speak to your GP.
Spread the word!
We cannot emphasise enough the importance of awareness. It’s time to openly discuss self-breast checks with our loved ones, friends, and communities. By having open conversations, and sharing our own experiences and insights regarding self-breast checks, we can inspire others to take control of their health and well-being. It creates a safe space where questions can be asked, concerns can be addressed, and support can be offered.
Together, we can build a supportive network that encourages everyone to make regular self-breast checks a part of their overall health routine.
Remember, knowledge is power, and by normalising self-breast checks, we can save lives and create a brighter, healthier future for all.
Find out more about Friendly Soap
Many thanks to Friendly Soap for Partnering with Prevent Breast Cancer. To find out more about their work, please visit their website or follow them on Twitter, Instagram or Facebook.
About Prevent Breast Cancer
Prevent Breast Cancer is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer – we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease. Join us today and help us create a future free from breast cancer. If you have any questions or concerns, email us today.
About Prevent Breast Cancer
Prevent Breast Cancer is the only UK charity entirely dedicated to the prediction and prevention of breast cancer – we’re committed to freeing the world from the disease altogether. Unlike many cancer charities, we’re focused on preventing, rather than curing. Promoting early diagnosis, screening and lifestyle changes, we believe we can stop the problem before it starts. And being situated at the only breast cancer prevention centre in the UK, we’re right at the front-line in the fight against the disease. Join us today and help us create a future free from breast cancer. If you have any questions or concerns, email us today.
