Breast Cancer Awareness ~ Every Body Carries a Story: What to Look For, When to Get Checked & Why Knowing Your Body Matters
We spend so much of our lives looking at our bodies.
Sometimes lovingly. Sometimes critically. Sometimes without really seeing them at all.
We notice the things we'd like to change. We compare ourselves to other women. We get used to the way our bodies look and feel, until one day something changes ~ and suddenly we notice how little we actually know about what is normal for us.
I've been thinking about this a lot.
Part of the story behind HERVÉ began with a woman I love, who had been through a difficult time with her body. I remember how meaningful it was for her to have something made specifically for her ~ something that didn't ask her body to look the way it had before, but simply met her where it was. It changed the way I thought about lingerie, and about the relationship we have with our bodies. Because our bodies aren't fixed. They change throughout our lives. Sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly, sometimes in ways we choose and sometimes in ways we don't. And I think there is something powerful about learning to notice those changes ~ not because we should be constantly examining ourselves, but because knowing your own body can help you recognise when something is different.
That's where breast awareness comes in.
What does it actually mean to be breast aware?
Breast cancer awareness sounds more complicated than it needs to be.
You don't need a special technique or a perfect routine. You don't need to check yourself at exactly the same time every month.
The idea is much simpler: get to know what your breasts normally look and feel like. You might notice them when you're getting dressed, showering, putting on lingerie, exercising, or simply going about your day. Breasts naturally come in different shapes and sizes, and it's completely normal for one to be slightly different from the other. They can also feel different at different points in your menstrual cycle and change throughout your life. There is no single version of “normal”.
Your normal is the thing worth knowing.
So, what changes should you look out for?
Most changes in the breast are not cancer. But a new or unusual change is worth getting checked rather than trying to work out what it means yourself. Things to be aware of include:
A new lump or thickening
A new lump or an area of thickened tissue in the breast, chest or armpit can have many causes, and most breast lumps are not cancerous. But if you notice something new, have it assessed by a healthcare professional.
A change in shape or size
You may notice that one breast looks different from usual, or that the overall shape or size has changed.
Breast asymmetry is completely normal. It's a new change from your own normal that is worth paying attention to.
Changes to the skin
Look out for new dimpling, puckering, persistent redness, swelling, thickening or changes in the texture of the skin.
Sometimes changes can be subtle.
Changes to the nipple
A nipple that becomes newly inverted, changes position or appearance, develops a persistent rash, or produces unusual discharge should be checked.
Blood-stained nipple discharge in particular should be assessed by a healthcare professional.
Swelling or a lump around the armpit
Breast tissue extends towards the armpit, and lymph nodes are located there. A new lump or swelling can have many causes, but it is worth having checked.
Persistent or unusual pain
Breast pain is common and is not usually a sign of breast cancer on its own. Hormonal changes and many other conditions can cause it. But if you experience persistent pain or a change that is unusual for you, it's worth talking to your doctor.
What if you notice something?
This is perhaps the most important part. You don't need to know what it is.
You don't need to decide whether something feels serious enough. And you certainly don't need to diagnose yourself from something you read online. If you notice a new or unusual change in your breast or chest, make an appointment with a healthcare professional and tell them what you've noticed. In many cases, the change will turn out to have a completely different cause. But getting something checked means you don't have to sit at home wondering. And if you have symptoms, don't wait for your next routine screening appointment. Screening is designed for people who don't have symptoms; a new change should be assessed separately.
And what about mammograms?
Breast awareness and breast screening aren't the same thing.
Knowing your body doesn't replace screening.
Mammograms can detect some breast cancers before they cause symptoms, which is why following the screening programme recommended where you live is important.
Screening recommendations vary depending on your age, country, personal history and individual risk. If you live in Catalonia, for example, the public breast cancer screening programme currently offers mammography every two years to women aged 50–69. Other regions and countries may have different recommendations. If you have a strong family history of breast or ovarian cancer, a known genetic risk such as a BRCA mutation, previous breast cancer or another reason you may be considered higher risk, speak with your doctor about what screening is appropriate for you.
Learning to pay attention, not to be afraid
I think there is an important difference between being aware of your body and being afraid of it. We don't need to spend our lives searching for something wrong. Our bodies are allowed to be asymmetrical. They can have scars, stretch marks, tattoos, freckles, changes in texture. They can change after illness, pregnancy, surgery, weight changes, hormones or simply getting older. There isn't a version of your body that you need to return to in order for it to be worthy of care. That's something I think about often when I design lingerie. I don't want lingerie to tell a woman what her body should look like. I want it to meet the body she has.
Maybe that's why breast awareness feels like such an important conversation to me. Not because we should become more critical of our bodies, but because paying attention can be an act of care.
Know what is normal for you.
Notice when something changes.
Don't be embarrassed to ask.
And let someone qualified help you understand what you're noticing.
Your body will change throughout your life. That's not something we've failed at. It's simply part of being human.
Breast Cancer Awareness: A note from HERVÉ by Céline Marie
This article is intended for general education and breast awareness only. It is not medical advice, a diagnosis or a substitute for professional healthcare. If you notice a new or unusual change in your breast or chest, please speak to a qualified healthcare professional. Always follow the breast cancer screening recommendations applicable to your age, location and personal medical history.
Comments