lupie chick – Page 4 – The Lupie Chick Project

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6 Months of Living with Lupus

December 2, 2011March 3, 2013 The Lupie Chick

Wow, where did the time go? It has been 6 months since my lupus diagnosis. I had a doctor appointment Tuesday, and I was informed that I’m stable- not getting any worse, but thus far not any better. No reduction of the meds (bummer), next appointment Jan 4, 2012.

As I reflect on the past 6 months-it brings tears to my eyes. I’ve have several short stays in the hospital, many days/nights of pain, and depression. There were days when all I could do was cry.. ball up in my bed and cry. I see my doctor so often that I feel like we are dating. I know I’m a handful and I know I work his nerves. I’m always full of questions and comments. I just tell him straight- I can’t afford to do all of the things you want me to do! I know it sounds crazy that someone/anyone would say that they can’t afford to do something that may benefit them-BUT I can’t! I’ve made adjustment to my benefits at work (starting with getting the flexible spending account) in which I hope will help me financially with some of the things I need to incorporate. In the mean time, I’m doing the best I can with what I have. It has been extremely difficult for me to accept help. I’ve always been the care giver- not the one being cared for. I find myself ashamed of my appearance (because of the weight gain from the meds along with the scarring on my face). Ive had trouble with housekeeping and cooking meals sometimes-but THANKS to my children and my husband all of which have pitched in and got the job done when I couldn’t.

Some friends have hung in there with me and a lot have fallen by the wayside. That saying “out of sight out of mind “pops into my head. As long as I’m out of sight, I guess I don’t cross their mind(s). The other day my son’s step mother sent me a message on Facebook that said “you’re a fighter- I know firsthand” lol..lol.. That sentence made me laugh uncontrollably. The people that I least expect to hear from are the people that I’m in contact with. The people whom I thought didn’t care about me, have showed the most concern. For that I’m forever grateful.

November 20th my daughter turned 13 years old. Crazy me thought it would be a great idea to have a 3 day (weekend) celebration.

Pretty Girls Rock Party started Friday at 3:30pm and ended Sunday at 6:00pm. All I can say is a weekend of cupcakes, makeup, swimming, food, and dancing left me slaved to my bed for 5 days. I literally could not move. I had a conversation with my body and Lupus. I told them- “look I need for the both of you to cooperate and lean back this weekend. My mini me turns 13 once and I need to be there for her-if either of you act up, or show off there will be hell to pay!!!!!” My feet gave out Sunday afternoon, but all else was perfect!!!!! My daughter was so happy that I was able to participate and hang with the “girls” all weekend.

It’s been 6 months of living with Lupus. I’m determined to make the next 6 months much more enjoyable & pain free. I’m being forced to face one of my fears (water). It’s been demanded (by my doctor) that I begin an exercise regimen. It’s hard to imagine exercising when I’m in constant pain. I’m looking into water aerobics (to help with my joints) and yoga. I have an incredible fear of water (due to a childhood incident when I almost drowned).

I’m hoping that I can get back to wearing my stiletto’s shoes,walking without pain and leave the sneakers for workouts-not part of my daily uniform. I want to wear makeup when I want too-not because I feel like I have too (I’ve recently purchased the clarisonic brush-I’m already seeing results). I will also be doing a makeup over-a do over- a NEW ME!!!!!! So until next time Lupie Chicks-stay healthy and pain free!

** did you notice that my earrings match my jacket? I wrapped them myself using yarn**

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Chick Interrupted!

October 25, 2011March 3, 2013 The Lupie Chick

Dear Lupus,

You coward did you think I would allow you steal my breath and render me helpless? How dare you again try to invade my body? I have had enough of your games and I will never allow you to access my body without a fight.

You think you are so slick. You try to attack me and take me down not realizing that I had my guard up and was ready for you. You are a spineless coward trying to attack me when you thought I was at my weakest. You tried to take over my body and just walk away. It doesn’t work like that. Why wouldn’t you show me your face? Oh that’s right you are so hideous that a face would be too humanistic for you.

Countless times you have tried to take me out and suck me into your sick world. Well I refuse to be a part of it and I want you to know that no matter how hard you try, no matter what you throw at me I will not give in to you. I will not allow you to ruin what God has made in His image. I am not your ordinary gal I have the best backer there is and God will not allow you to ever take control of me and my body.

It is a shame you are so lonely and always try to harm others. You are trying to wreak havoc in too many people’s lives. I hope you burn in hell for the problems you have caused. You punk! You thought you had me? There is no way I would let you get me down.

Stay out of my life! I despise you and your beat down will be 20 times worse if you show your nasty ass around here again!

Letter to Lupus written by Racquel Dozier

aunaturale, autoimmune, beauty, insomnia, lupie chick, lupus, mz sixx, natural hair, power nap, skin care, sleep, womens health

Day 8: Sleep more for younger looking skin

October 18, 2011 The Lupie Chick

Get Enough Beauty Sleep
By Amy Wechsler, MD

Get More Beauty Sleep If you don’t have any early obligations today, sleep in as long as you like. If you have to get up early, take a nap later in the afternoon. The ideal time for a nap is about 8 hours after you get up — that’s when your body temperature naturally takes a little dip (a sleep inducer); it’s part of your normal biological rhythm. So give in, and experience the beauty benefits of a little power nap.

How to Power Nap
Take off your shoes, and get comfy on a reclining chair, couch, or bed.

Close the blinds, or turn away from any direct sunlight.

Set an alarm for 30 minutes. That gives you 10 to fall asleep and 20 for your actual nap.

Avoid napping after 3 p.m. — it can disrupt your nighttime sleep.

Here’s a great reason to get more sleep.
Keep focusing on your inner beauty, fostering friendships, moving your body, eating well, going green, relaxing, and simplifying.

The information included on this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan.

aunaturale, autoimmune, beauty, gratitude, lupie chick, lupus, meditation, miss sixx, mz sixx, natural hair, stress, treatment, womens health

Day 7: Be positive for younger looking skin

October 17, 2011 The Lupie Chick

Focus on Your Inner Beauty
By Amy Wechsler, MD

Today is all about inner beauty. Use these inside-out beauty tips to get the radiant glow that comes with inner peace:

Focus on the Positive Try this tonight: Make a gratitude list for the day. Write down three great things that happened during your day. They don’t have to be out of this world. They can be as simple as the fact that you ate well all day, or that you hit a big deadline at work, or that the sky at sunset was beautiful. Just three good things, simple as that.
See how being positive can keep your heart young and help you avoid these.

Meditate Stress Away Stress takes its toll on your skin, your hair, and your natural good looks, so make sure to keep stress well under control. Meditation is a great way to work through stress, calm your mind, and keep your brain functioning at its peak. In the hour before your bedtime tonight, try this simple meditation.

Continue to foster friendships, move your body, eat well, go green, relax, and simplify.

aunaturale, autoimmune, awareness, immune system, lupie chick, lupus, migraines, mz sixx, treatment, womens health

Day 6: Quality time for younger looking skin

October 16, 2011 The Lupie Chick

Have Fun with Friends

Spend Quality Time with Friends or Family Spend time today with people you care about. If you love to cook, invite them over for a scrumptious meal. If you don’t want to cook, go out. The point is to get together with people who are meaningful in your life — who make you laugh or inspire you — and share stories and time. Put together the perfect dinner-party menu with healthy recipes from the RealAge Recipe Finder.

Extend the Evening for Extra Value If you and your dinner mates live close to one another, invite them back to your place for dessert or an after-dinner drink. If it’s winter, light up the fire; if it’s summer, sit outside in candlelight (for more vitamin G). Just make sure you’re not up past your bedtime. Keep moving your body, eating right, going green, relaxing, and simplifying.

arthritis, aunaturale, autoimmune, awareness, depression, fitness, immune system, lupie chick, lupus, miss sixx, mz sixx, rheumatoid, treatment, womens health

Reap the Benefits of Physical Activity

October 15, 2011 The Lupie Chick

Day 5: Be active for younger looking skin

By Amy Wechsler, MD

Get Moving for Better Skin, Better Sleep
Do at least 30 minutes of physical activity today, and schedule some time for a few more active half hours over the next few days. Whether it’s taking a class at your gym, going for a power walk with friends, taking a bike ride, or playing Frisbee in the park — there are lots of options for doing your body good. Choose something you enjoy.

There’s no point in being miserable.
Try one of these free workout videos — there’s something for everyone.
And get this: Exercise during the day helps you fall asleep at night and improves the quality of your beauty sleep. Just another one of the health benefits of physical activity.
Remember to eat well, go green, relax, and simplify.

Treat Yourself to Something Special
You’ve hit the halfway mark to better skin! Block out an hour today or tomorrow — 1 full hour — to do anything you’d like. Veg in front of the TV; go shopping for new makeup at a department store where you can get some TLC (check out Dr. Amy’s Most-Worth-It Beauty Splurges); get a manicure and pedicure or the massage you still haven’t had yet. Just make sure it’s fun and relaxing. This is quality you time.

aunaturale, autoimmune, awareness, lupie chick, lupus, Omegga fatty acids, skin disorder, vegatables, womens health

Eat Foods That Are Good for Your Skin

October 14, 2011 The Lupie Chick

Day 4: Best foods for younger looking skin

By Amy Wechsler, MD

Avoid Food That’s Bad for Your Skin Focus on eating as cleanly as possible today. Avoid fast food, fried food, and anything processed. That includes refined sugar, soda (diet and regular), and processed meats and cheeses. Why? They keep your body and your skin off balance. Instead, eat foods that are good for your skin. Here’s a quick list of foods for healthy skin:
Oranges
Cantaloupe
Tomatoes
Leafy greens
Salmon
Tuna

Firm and Bright
You’re probably up to your eyebrows (Botoxed or not) with the mantra “eat more fruits and vegetables.” But if you’ve yet to take that advice to heart, maybe knowing that they prevent wrinkles will do the trick.

The skin doc’s three top picks: sweet potatoes, tomatoes, and cantaloupe.

What they do: Replenish your skin’s supply of antioxidants, so they’re ready to scarf up free radicals whenever they make an appearance. Free rads are highly reactive oxygen molecules that damage cells and contribute to just about everything that can go wrong with skin, from dryness to wrinkles.

Fresh and Juicy
Your body can’t store much wrinkle-fighting vitamin C, so you need to top up your supplies regularly. The easiest way: Have some citrus every day.

The skin doc’s four top picks: oranges, lemons, limes, and grapefruit.
Ounce for ounce, oranges are the top citrus source of C, but you can only eat so many, right? For variety, make lemonade; squeeze limes on melon; add grapefruit to salad; and, instead of drinking soda, fizz OJ with sparkling water. It all adds up.

What they do: Keep skin’s vitamin C levels high. While C is a nifty antioxidant, that’s not the key reason it’s here. It helps keep collagen — the supportive protein fibers that stop skin from sagging — strong and resilient. (Flimsy collagen means lines and wrinkles.) Since collagen breakdown really picks up in your mid-30s, eat citrus early and often to head off aging.

Smoothing and Soothing
There’s a particularly potent antioxidant known as EGCG that does all kinds of good things for skin. The best place to find it? True teas: black, green, or white (not herbal). Brew a full teapot every morning so that sipping 4 to 6 cups throughout the day is a no-brainer.

The skin doc’s #1 pick: green tea.
While all true teas contain EGCG (by the way, that stands for epigallocatechin-3-gallate), the various types of green tea have the most. Dr. Wechsler’s personal favorite is hojicha green tea (available at http://www.adagio.com). “The roasting process that turns this green tea a brownish color also lowers its caffeine content,” she says — handy if you’re caffeine sensitive or it’s one of those days when you don’t need another stimulant.

What it does: Gives your skin a healthy dose of EGCG, which is a great multitasker. EGCG puts a damper on inflammatory chemicals involved in acne and sun-related skin aging, it helps prevent skin cancer; and it has a lion-tamer effect on tumor cells. What’s more, green tea contains L-theanine, a de-tensing amino acid — and anything you can do to stanch the flow of the stress hormone cortisol helps keep collagen fibers intact.

Dark and Green
Certain dark green vegetables, whether they’re fresh, frozen, raw, or steamed, really deliver on vitamin A, one of the most skin-essential vitamins going.

The skin doc’s three top picks: spinach, turnip greens, and broccoli.

What they do: Deliver a hefty supply of vitamin A, which supports skin-cell turnover, the process that keeps cell growth and development humming along flawlessly. Without enough A, skin becomes dry, tough, and scaly.

Fish Faves
Several cold-water catches give your skin a double benefit: age-fighting omega-3 fatty acids and the restorative powers of protein.
The skin doc’s seven top picks: salmon, trout, tuna, sardines, Atlantic mackerel, Pacific herring, and most shellfish.

Just don’t, uh, go overboard. As good as omega-3s are for skin (and the rest of you, too), worries about the amount of mercury in many fish mean it’s smart to limit seafood or freshwater fish to two meals a week. That’s a must for young children and for women who are pregnant, who may become pregnant, or who are nursing. (Go here for the government’s fish guidelines.)

What they do: Omega-3s fight inflammation, now considered one of the top skin agers, and they also help protect against sunburn, enhancing the effects of your sunscreen’s SPF. Protein is required to build and repair skin cells and to make enzymes and hormones that help keep it glowing.

Fill your grocery cart with all of these foods and you won’t just look younger, you’ll be younger. Eating at least one serving of fish a week and getting the right amount of antioxidants through diet or supplements lowers your biological age.

Click here to find more food that is good for your skin

Curb Cravings

To curb cravings and make sure you’re eating only the best foods for your skin, drink water or (green)tea throughout the day. Mix it up with sparkling water, a splash of natural (no sugar added) cranberry juice (rich in antioxidants), or a wedge of lemon, lime, cucumber, or melon.

Keep going green, relaxing, and simplifying.

40th birthday, lupie chick, lupus, miss sixx, mz sixx, natural hair

Today is my Birthday- I’m Fierce, Fabalous, and FORTY!!!!

October 14, 2011March 3, 2013 The Lupie Chick

Today I turned the big 4-0- yep- I’m 40 years old today. I must say that I’m proud of who I’am and my accomplishments. As with alot of people life and situations crept in and took me on a different path than the one I had set out for myself. I’ve been told a hundred times, your path and destiny has been pre determined-EVERYTHING that has happen in my life WAS SUPPOSE TO HAPPEN! ( including having Lupus).

I have 3 beautiful children, a beautiful grandson, husband and family that love me FAULTS AND ALL ( praise and testimony moment). I have a loving mother that blessed me with life and made many sacrifices to bring me to where I’am today.

The days leading up to my birthday I had time to reflect. I’ve noticed that I’ve become a “creature if habit”. Which is neccessary in some suitations, but not every suitation.

I had several conversations about some of the things I’d dreamt of doing. My homeboy ( Malik) told me ” you’re never too old to live out your dreams”. The only thing or person stopping you from living out your dreams are Y-O-U! I knew that, but hearing that, at that moment hit home. It was my ” ah-ha” moment.

Ya’ll know I posses alot of talent and sometimes my plate runneth over because I’m always doing something..lol..lol.. After giving it much thought- I realize that I had ALOT of things I wanted to do. Some simple, others more complex. Here is what I came up with, in no particular order of importance:

1. Bring awareness to Lupus
2. Launch my lupus foundation
3. Sponsor a awareness walk for Lupus
4. Make a family recipe book
5. Write more personal letters and create personalized cards
6. Establish a holiday tradition (Thanksgiving, Christmas, 4th of July) with my grandson

7. Learn to crochet
8. Learn a foreign language ( specifically Spanish)
9. Wear more skirts and dresses
10. Take a cruise
11. Take a once in a lifetime trip. (Africa, Italy, Spain, Rome, or Greece)
12. Grow a veggie garden (those who know me will attest that this will be a very big challenge. I have black thumbs).
13. Have 12 hours of good sleep.
14. Read a whole book – one a month for a year.
15. Go to a cooking class with the hubby
16. Eat vegetarian for a week.
17. Tell the people who mean the most to me that I love them more often.
18. Renew my wedding vows in a destination ceremony
19. Find the perfect little black dress
20. Get back to a healthier weight (under 200 lbs) and fitness level (strength building).
21. Wear a bikini – and look fantabulous in it!
22. Have a “true” emergency fund.
23. Declutter and live a simpler lifestyle.

24. Bi-Monthly massages and facials ( more pamper me days)
25. Take my multivitamins every single day without missing (at least for a month).

26. Run (rather, walk/jog) a (5K) marathon
27. Start using coupons more
28. Have a thriving side hustle that will move me towards my goal of financial independence.
29. Go to New York City and be a complete tourist
30. Get a Mac (computer)
31. Take more walks
32. Learn to bake
33. Watch less TV
34. Attend Essence Music Festival
35. Pay off my car(s) ( and don’t buy another one)
36. Sing a karaoke song ( alone)
37. Get a bikini wax
38. Go on a no soda challenge for a month
39. Learn how to calm down
40. Visit a new east coast state
41. Attend a runway fashion show at Fashion Week
42. Try something new at my favorite restaurant
43. Go fishing ( catch, cook, and eat the fish)
44. Go to a concert ( the one and only concert I ever attend was New Edition – I was 13 yrs old)
45. Wardrobe haul ( only keep clothing and shoes that I actually wear)
46. Take a pole dance class
47. Learn how to mediate
48. Do a burlesque photo shoot
49. Trace my family roots ( ancestry)
50. Reconnect with my faith (attend church regularly)

“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve”

I considered while writing my list is that each task/goal should be SMART. You’ve probably heard that acronym before – it stands for Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Timed.

Specific is what it is – you must be able to say exactly what you want to do. For instance, with #8, I didn’t just say that I want to learn a foreign language; I specifically said that I want to learn Spanish

Measurable means that the goal must be something that can be quantified or tracked. Some of my goals are rather vague – for example #50 – I said that I want to go to church “regularly”. What is regularly? That won’t mean the same thing to everyone. However, I couldn’t go much further with that. I didn’t want to say every Sunday or every Wednesday because I don’t know when I will go.

If something is attainable, that means that it’s possible. All of the things I’ve listed here are within reach. I may have to work hard to make them happen, but they are all within reach.

Relevancy is subjective. What’s relevant to me may not be relevant to you. However, all of my goals are VERY relevant to me.

Timed goals are set into a time box of sorts. All of these goals, I want to achieve by the age of 45. There’s my time box.

I am looking at turning 40 as my new lease on life. I’m a little bit older, a whole lot wiser and most definitely, sexier!!! Does this mean that I am officially a “grown-up?” LOL!!!

Life Really Does Begin at 40!

So, what’s on your list? How are you holding yourself accountable?

aunaturale, autoimmune, beauty, blood pressure, cancer, green tea, lupie chick, lupus, mz sixx, skin disorder, womens health

Go Green for Great Skin-Day 3

October 13, 2011 The Lupie Chick

Day 3: Green tips for younger looking skin

Green is beautiful. So today, start nurturing the green goddess in you with these green tips for naturally glowing skin:

Drink Green Tea
Green tea keeps you hydrated, as does water, but here’s the difference: Tea is brimming with good-for-you flavonoids. So fill a big thermos with green tea in the morning, and sip it all day — hot at first, over ice later, if you like. Start today, and continue drinking green tea every day for the rest of the week.

Green tea’s good for a lot more than your skin

1. Cut Your Cancer Risk Several polyphenols — the potent antioxidants that green tea is famous for — seem to help keep cancer cells from gaining a foothold in the body by discouraging growth and then suppressing the creation of new blood vessels that tumors need to thrive. Study after study has found that regularly drinking green tea reduces the risk of breast, stomach, esophagus, colon, and prostate cancer.

2. Soothe Your Skin Got a cut, scrape, or bite, and a little leftover green tea? Soak a cotton ball in it. The tea is a natural antiseptic that relieves itching and swelling. Try it on inflamed blemishes, sunburns, or puffy eyelids. But that’s not all. Green tea has been shown to help block sun-triggered skin cancer, whether you drink it or apply it directly to the skin — which is why you’re seeing green tea in more and more sunscreens and moisturizers.

3. Steady Your Blood Pressure Having healthy blood pressure — meaning below 120/80 — is one thing. Keeping it that way is quite another. But people who sip just half a cup of green tea a day are almost 50% less likely to wind up with hypertension than nondrinkers. Credit goes to the polyphenols again (especially one known as ECGC); they help keep blood vessels from contracting and raising blood pressure.

4. Protect Your — or Your Mom’s — MemoryGreen tea may also keep the brain from turning fuzzy. Getting-up-there adults who drink at least two cups a day are half as likely to develop cognitive problems as those who drink less. Why? It appears that the tea’s big dose of antioxidants fights the free-radical damage to brain nerves seen in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

5. Stay Young The younger and healthier your arteries are, the younger and healthier you are. So fight plaque buildup in your blood vessels; the sticky stuff increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, adds years to your RealAge, and saps your energy. How much green tea does this vital job take? About 10 ounces a day, which also deters your body from absorbing artery-clogging fat and cholesterol.

6. Lose Weight Oh yeah, one more thing. Turns out that green tea speeds up your body’s calorie-burning process. In the every-little-bit-counts department, that’s good news!

Go Outside, Take In Nature

Spend at least 20 minutes outside today — and over the next 6 days — soaking in some “vitamin G” (for green). Mother Nature can be extremely therapeutic, and the fresh air will do you — and your skin — a world of good. Walk this way to chase away stress.

And remember to keep doing the activities from Day 1 and Day 2 — relax and simplify.

Beauty Bonus: A Cleopatra Beauty Tip

Try a luxurious milk bath tonight as part of your unwind routine: Add 2 to 4 cups of whole milk to a warm bath, and soak for 20 minutes. Then, give your body a loofah or washcloth scrub. Follow that with a rinse, a gentle dry down, and an all-over moisturizer application. Ahhhh, that’s better

The information included on this blog is for educational purposes only. It is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. The reader should always consult his or her healthcare provider to determine the appropriateness of the information for their own situation or if they have any questions regarding a medical condition or treatment plan.

aunaturale, blog, breast cancer, breast exam, domestic violence, emotional, lupie chick, lupus, miss sixx, mz sixx, natural hair, pink, purple, roller coaster, skin disorder, tatas, womens health

Did you know that October recognizes -Lupus Awareness| Domestic Violence Awareness|Breast Cancer Awareness

October 12, 2011March 3, 2013 The Lupie Chick

October is Lupus Awareness Month ( Canada)…

yet lupus remains under-recognized and under-funded

The first new treatment in 50 years has brought increased awareness across Canada of Lupus and its impact on patients and their families. This is great news for Lupus Canada and its provincial partners as we work towards a vision of life without Lupus. Known as ‘The Disease with 1000 Faces”, lupus affects tens of thousands of Canadian men, women and children. In October, lupus patients and supporters across Canada will recognize Lupus Awareness Month as a time to reflect on what all Canadians can do to increase awareness of this under-recognized and under-funded disease.

October marks Domestic Violence Awareness Month

Domestic violence is a serious problem that affects as many as 1 in 4 women in our country. It can happen to anyone at anytime at any point in their lives. Domestic violence can be defined as a pattern of abusive behaviors by an intimate partner. The one and only purpose of domestic violence is to gain complete control over another person. This can be done in many forms such as physical abuse, emotional abuse, verbal abuse, sexual abuse, financial abuse, and stalking.

The most dangerous point in an abusive relationship is leaving it, and the likelihood of violent assault may increase substantially during this time. Access to emergency services can be critical to a victim in transition. Even a cell phone without an active service plan can be used to call 911, meaning that help for these clients need never be far away.

The DC Coalition Against Domestic Violence accept working and non-working cell phones, cell phone batteries, and AC chargers. You can donate a phone without a charger as well. We cannot accept any cell phone accessories, such as car chargers, hands-free devices, or spare faceplates. You do not need to include your manual with your donation.

You may mail your cell phones to:
DCCADV Attn: Cell Phone Drive5 Thomas Circle NWWashington, DC 20005

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is a disease in which malignant (cancer) cells form in the tissues of the breast. It is considered a heterogeneous disease—differing by individual, age group, and even the kinds of cells within the tumors themselves. Obviously no woman wants to receive this diagnosis, but hearing the words “breast cancer” doesn’t always mean an end. It can be the beginning of learning how to fight, getting the facts, and finding hope.

Women in the United States get breast cancer more than any other type of cancer except for skin cancer. It is second only to lung cancer as a cause of cancer death in women.g a few minutes to do a breast self-exam a minimum of once a month can make a lifetime of difference.

Nearly 70% of all breast cancers are found through self-exams and with early detection the 5-year survival rate is 98%. If you find a lump, schedule an appointment with your doctor, but don’t panic—8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. For additional peace of mind, call your doctor whenever you have concerns.

HOW TO DO A BREAST SELF-EXAM

In the Shower
Fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts.

Before a Mirror
Inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.
Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, a swelling, a dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do.

Lying Down
Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand flat, press your right breast gently in small circular motions, moving vertically or in a circular pattern covering the entire breast. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.