Fight Breast Cancer

By: Jay Dee, MPH

Check In With Your Breasts—and Each Other

Remember when I showed you how to check your breasts? I also want you to really pay attention to any changes. Look out for:

• Dimpling of the skin

• Redness or swelling

• Inverted nipples

• Rashes on or around the nipple

• Nipple discharge

  
  

Encourage your loved ones not only to perform monthly self-breast exams, but also to take the time to look at their breasts. If something feels or looks different—say something. Bring any concerns to your healthcare provider right away.

And if someone you know is going through testing or a diagnosis, offer to attend their appointments with them. As a patient, it can be overwhelming to process so much information at once. Be the person who listens, takes notes, asks questions, and provides calm in the storm.

A breast cancer diagnosis is devastating.

If someone you love is navigating this journey, ask how you can support them. Consider their emotional well-being, the grief of hair loss, the intensity of treatment, and the reality of facing a life-altering illness. And if you are the one fighting, let your community show up for you. Let them hold you through the hard days and celebrate your strength on the good ones.

Because when one of us fights, we all fight.

As much as I wish I could give you a checklist to prevent breast cancer, I can’t. What I can do is urge you to:

• Perform monthly breast exams

• Talk with your provider about the BRCA gene test if you have a family history

• Stay in ongoing conversation with your healthcare team

  
  

Breast cancer sucks. But early detection saves lives.

To those we’ve lost, those still fighting, those who’ve survived, and those newly diagnosed—we see you, we stand with you, and we remain committed to awareness, early action, and hope.

I love you, LaVaughn, Chimeka, Lisa, and Chanel.The fight continues.

Until Next Time,

The Vagina Liberator