The importance of a Self Examination

As we kick off another beautiful year, I thought it appropriate that we start by recognizing the importance of friends, family, faith, and health.

I really won't harp on the significance of the first three. I would venture to guess that each of you, in your own way, hold those three things close to your heart. After all, they comprise the majority of our time, laughter, heartache, fun, conflict, and joy. Friends, family, and faith. Enough said.

But the one thing that I have noticed not many women recognize the importance of pertains to the foruth aspect--health--which is a monthly self breast examination. We hear quite often, and are bombarded with each October, that no woman over the age of 35 should miss her bi-annual mammograms, and no woman over forty should neglect her mammogram yearly. Well I say, absolutely!! How many lives, after all, have been saved by those wonderous screening methods?? Countless.

But what about those younger women, who aren't eligible for a mammogram? And what about those women who develop tumors IN BETWEEN mammograms? In these instances, bi-annual and annual screenings fall frighteningly short.

Each and every woman, beginning at the age of 18, should conduct a self breast examination every month, preferably at the same time each month to ensure she is at the same monthly cycle stage. Get to know what you feel like, what is normal for you! Young women often have dense, lumpy breast tissue, and although your OBGYN may clinically examine you once per year, she does not know what YOU feel like, what is normal for YOU, what dense pocket of tissue has always been there, and what popped up unexpectedly. This is your responsibility.

A breast tumor can develop and grow in a matter of weeks. Waiting months for your next mammogram will give this tumor the opportunity to grow even more, often spreading to other areas of your body and severely worsening your life expectancy/prognosis. But when caught EARLY (very early), the cure rate is phenomenal.

So remember, ladies, to not rely solely on our medical professionals. While they are irreplaceable, you still need to play the part of your own physician each month, and check yourself. I'm not a big believer in resolutions, but a commitment--that's something we can all do. Remind the women you love to do the same. It could save a life.

I wish you a happy, healthy, and prosperous 2008!!!!