Know the causes for breast cancer and its symptoms exact

Know the causes for breast cancer and its symptoms exact
breast cancer

If you’re related to or know someone who’s been diagnosed with breast cancer, then you probably know all too well the importance of regular self-examinations. The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends all adult women perform a self-exam at least once a month — but what exactly should we all be looking for?

Many women don’t know what changes in their breasts could be problematic, which is why this KnowYourLemons.com graphic went viral earlier this week when Facebook user Erin Smith Chieze shared it from the Worldwide Breast Cancer page. Since her initial post, more than 20,000 women have shared the graphic with their friends and loved ones.
The image, created by Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont from London, England, uses lemons to illustrate various physical indications of breast cancer like bumps, growing veins, peeling skin, dimpling, fluid, redness, and more. It also draws attention to less-noticeable signs like invisible lumps, bumps, and thick masses.

Erin decided to share the post with her friends on the social platform because a similar image helped her recognize the disease growing in her own breast. “In December of 2015 when I saw an indentation that looked like one of those pictures, I instantly knew I had breast cancer,” she wrote. “I tried to feel for a tumor, but my tumor was non-palpable. I was diagnosed with breast cancer five days later and with stage 4 the following month.”

The cancer patient also recognized a lack of clear and helpful information regarding breast health. Recently, Erin noticed women in her Facebook feed sharing hearts to remind each other to get their yearly breast examinations, but she knew her friends could be doing more. “I knew what breast cancer was. I knew all about self exams, but a picture of what to look for keyed me into knowing I had a terminal disease,” she said. “We need to give real information — not cute hearts. If you truly want to help people with cancer, or those who will get cancer, share photos like this one.”

The post is striking a chord with women everywhere. “Hearts, pink ribbons, etc. are all well and good, but real information and support save more lives from a terrible disease,” one commenter wrote. We couldn’t agree more!