Hiya Prevention Pioneers,
In honor of breast cancer prevention month, it’s time to #checkyourselfie! Keep A Breast Founder, Shaney jo Darden, joined me for this interview to share how to do a breast check infused with fun and self-love. We also discuss important tips on breast health and prevention.
In this video, Shaney and I check our own breasts and we hope you’ll join us! If you’ve got some privacy, follow along—or try this at home later. Her approach makes regular self-checks fun, non-taboo and as normal as brushing your teeth.
Shaney also reminded me of a few self breast exam tips we should all keep in mind:
1. Your breast area extends all the way under your armpit—so you might need to expand the amount of terrain you’re exploring. (The majority of lumps are found in this area.)
2. Your partner may be the one to feel a lump in your breast, so it’s important to raise his or her awareness, as well.
3. Men can also get breast cancer, so you should #checkyourselfie, too!
We also talked about the importance of avoiding endocrine disruptors (especially BPA), and Shaney filled me in on her free app that reminds us when it’s time to do another self-love boobie check (hint: for the ladies, right after your period is best!).
Here’s a Recap of Shaney’s 5 Self Breast Exam Steps (aka: How to do a Breast Cancer Prevention Self-Check):
1. Mirror Mirror: Look in the mirror and see what you’ve got going on. Put your hands over your head, and then on your hips. Front boob and side boob are created equal, so be sure to include both.
2. Mini Massage: Next, keep looking in the mirror and put one hand behind your head. Now, place three fingers to your breast and check for anything that strikes you as weird or not your “normal”.
3. Up & Down: Move your three fingers in small circles with different levels of pressure. Choose easy, medium and then hard while walking your fingers to the next area, instead of lifting them off your boobies.
4. Your Pits: Cover your entire breast up and down and into the armpit area, finishing inside your armpit. Leave no breast area unchecked! Side boobs are boobies, too. Spend extra time in your pits where your lymphatic system lives and where many breast cancers develop—they may need extra circle massage love.
5. Squeeze: Lastly, squeeze each nipple. If there is any discharge or pain, see a doctor right away.
You can find out more about Shaney’s #checkyourselfie campaign, plus grab loads of helpful resources at her website.
Please help me keep this vital conversation going by sharing this interview with everyone you know. Remember, breast cancer affects women of all ages—young women included (and dudes). Don’t be shy—protect your boobs. Embrace Prevention. And tell your friends!
Your turn: Pledge to #checkyourselfie by leaving a comment below.
Peace & nipple pinching,
I collaborated with experts I’ve met through my experience with cancer and compiled a modern-day guide for navigating cancer with courage, clarity, and confidence. Whether you’re a cancer patient, survivor, thriver, caregiver, or you’re interested in prevention, Your Cancer Guide was created with your needs in mind. Learn how this 7-step roadmap for prevention and recovery can help you in your cancer journey here.
This was awesome. Thank you so much Kris & Shaney. Big love, Exo
Is the app available for android?
I don’t have an iphone…
Hiya Donna! Yes, the app is available for Android. xo, kc
Thank you so much for this post!
Kris,
My name is Maggie, I was diagnosed with stage 3 Her2+ breast cancer (right side only) in February of 2010. I had 12 rounds of Herceptin and Taxol followed by 4 rounds of A/C and then a mastectomy (unilateral, unfortunately) then 6 weeks of radiation followed by 9 months of Herceptin followed by Tamoxofin.
I am writing to tell you that you and your book “Crazy, Sexy Cancer survivor” got my through all of that. It truly did. I think the book and yourself are amazing. It taught me how to go through it. To get angry first and then to surround myself with positive, healthy people and food.
In October of 2013 I was diagnosed with metastasized breast cancer in my lung and abdomen and then later left breast. I now follow you online and I am so grateful to have you in my life to show me how to go through all of this and to make me feel like it is all going to be alright. Thank you so much
Best regards,
Maggie Briscoe
OMG ! THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE INFORMATIVE VIDEO. I LEARNED SO MUCH AND I PLAN TO TEACH ALL MY GIRLFRIENDS THESE IMPORTANT STEPS AND PASS ALONG YOUR EMAIL ADDRESS TO ALL OF THEM. NOT ONLY MIGHT THIS INFORMATION SAVE SOME LIVES, BUT IT WAS ALSO TREMENDOUS FUN TO WATCH. I TRULY ENJOYED IT!
I am a 47 yr old woman who has NOT gotten a mammogram yet due to learning that they can also cause
cancer, adding more radiation/stirring it up in their and truly not needed if I don’t have breast cancer in my family history. Wanted to know your thoughts on this please.
thank you,
stephanie
Same question, I’ve heard mammagraphies can cause cancer. Someone told me about thermo – but I can’t find it anywhere. any advice?
Mammography is not as useful for women with fibrous breast tissue. I had yearly mammograms that never detected my cancer, although it did start the process of diagnosis when it found three microscopic grains of calcium, and indication that something was amiss. The tumor was confirmed by ultrasound. Luckily, my stage 2 diagnosis has a happy ending. My yearly follow up is an MRI with contrast. It’s an expensive test but it is more conclusive and doesn’t involve radiation.
Whatever you decide, please do not postpone some sort of screening with your physician. The earlier breast cancer is found, the more likely you are to have a better outcome.
thank you for the reminder and the info…I can’t seem to find the app to put on my phone…if you can give this to me it would be appreciated. I sat here by my computer with my cup of tea and followed the directions for a check. Thank you!
hi Betsy,
you can find the links to download the FREE Check Yourself app here, It’s avail for iphone and andriod.
http://checkyourselfie.org
xoxo
Thank you so much for this wonderful video of explaining the proper way to do a self exam. I just lost my 44 year old sister last month to breast cancer. It is so important to catch this early! Know your body!!
I can’t find the app you were talking about. checkyourselfie doesn’t come up in the search in my iPhone app store.
Use this link Karen: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/keep-a-breast/id366745482?mt=8 or go to checkyourselfie.org
Thanks for this! I try to do my check-up regularly but it’s always kind of scary…you don’t really want to do it because you don’t want to find anything… so it’s great to get a new fun perspective on this. Thank you!
thank you so much for putting that video together and telling us about that cool reminder app. I followed along with the video and now know what to look for and where (who knew about your pits too?). Quick and easy! Thanks Ladies!!!!!
Thank you Kris & Shaney, although I have colorectal C I don’t check my boobies for a couple of reasons. 1 is that nasty old thing called fear & 2 my fear is worse because my sister has breast C I know that because of that it should make me more aware but I’m ashamed to say it has had the opposite effect on me. So seeing this today Kris has made me face those fears & do a selfie check so thank you again for helping to ease my fears. I will also show this to my sister. You are my hero Kris best wishes from the beautiful Emerald Isle, sending lots of Irish blessings to you & all your team. X
What a great post, thank you!
This was so awesome and helpful! You two are my FAVE ladies about cancer prevention resources and this was such a fun video to gain better knowledge of doing a self check and sharing with other friends and loved ones. Big hugs for this and for all your creative ideas on making things fun!
Thank you Kris and Shaney for putting this information out there in such a fun and respectful way. LOVED IT! Great video to share with my community. Many thanks.
Thanks for infusing this process with love. I tell my girls every morning “I love you” unconditionally. I give them a morning massage to get lymphatic fluid moving, and do some braless rebounding. I don’t capture them (wear a bra) unless I’m going out in public so that they are free to express themselves. I take care of my body and feed it wisely (just like you). I don’t fear for their health which I think helps a lot.
Bless you for making being a healthy woman fun!
Avoiding milk and yogurt has helped tremendously with breast tenderness, even organic milk has hormones so if you are probably “perfect” like 😉 me you may want give this a try, those extra hormones you don’t need will be enough to upset your system… it takes about one whole cycle to detox and feel the difference.
Kris,
Thank you so much for the great tips and thank you for the reminder to check my boobies. I did my #checkyourselfie steps and am heading to the Apple store to grab the app for my iphone. What a great and amazing way to give us a reminder with tips for how to do our self checks easily.
Big hugs!
I kept smiling and applauding both of you during this video!! Excellent information and excellent presentation.
Just finished breast cancer treatment. Lump was found during annual exam, and yes, it could easily have been found earlier with this education and easy app to execute.
Used to have 34G (big!) and BC surgery reduced to “Perfect C”, so if anyone reading this, I feel so good about myself and I am now in a space of thriving.
Have a blessed day – Aloha from Hawaii
Thank you so much for this video! I’ve known for years that I SHOULD do a breast check myself once a month but never felt I knew how and never did. This makes it so easy. The Check Your Self App makes it easy to remember. You did a great job changing my mind set towards keeping my boobies heathy. I’m ready to go! Thank you for your smiles too. I really enjoyed watching your radient faces so full of joy.