Blog For Your Breasts Day

Happy October! October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, so today, the Love/Avon Army of Women (AOW) has asked bloggers everywhere to “Blog For Your Breasts.” Smart Girls Know is honored to take participate in this effort! FYI – the AOW is all about getting men and women to take part in breast cancer research studies aimed at determining the causes of breast cancer—and how to prevent it. Their goal with this campaign? To recruit ONE MILLION MEN AND WOMEN of all ages and ethnicities for this research, including breast cancer survivors and those who have never had breast cancer.

Although breast cancer is much more common in older women, it can affect younger women. Cases among teenagers, though rare, do occur. So that’s why it’s important to start doing breast self-examinations once they begin menstruating. Here’s what Kids Health has to say on the matter:

Although breast cancer in teens is extremely rare, it’s a good idea for girls to learn how to perform a breast self-examination (BSE) so they can get used to how their bodies feel normally. After learning what is normal for them, teens can then recognize changes in their breasts.

Doctors recommend doing a monthly BSE at the same time each month (like a few days after a girl’s period ends, when breasts are less tender). Some kinds of lumps that teenage girls may feel are normal, but a doctor should check out any lump to be sure. If your daughter notices any changes or has any questions, she should talk to her doctor.

Though you need to be 18 years old to sign up for the AOW research campaign, you can still support this effort by helping to spread the word. Here’s how:

• Recruit your friends/family members to sign up here
• Updatingyour  Facebook status today with t his: “I signed up to STOP breast cancer before it STARTS. Have you? Join today at http://www.armyofwomen.org.
• Tweet about the AOW and to use the hashtag #WritePink.