October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Philanthropy is an essential core value of ours, both in our personal and professional lives as pediatricians and through MD Moms. As physicians, women and mothers we are committed to raising awareness when it comes to both child and family health.
As you may or may not know, October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. While we love that there is a month of the year dedicated to awareness, we hope it will just be a kickoff to what is an entire year, and lifetime, of action.

It is nearly impossible to encounter a family that has not been touched by this dreadful disease in some way. For some of us it is our mothers or fathers, our sisters, our aunts, our grandmothers. For others it is a best friend, a friend of a friend, an acquaintance.
Many of you reading this have bravely fought and gloriously triumphed over a most devastating diagnosis. Too many women (and men) have not.
One more mother, one more grandparent, one more individual dying from breast cancer is one treasured person too many.

During the month of October, we will be donating 15% of the web sales of Baby Silk on our site mdmoms.com to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
This global organization, founded by the extraordinary Evelyn Lauder fifteen years ago, is dedicated to finding a cure in our lifetime and we hope we can help make that goal a reality!

We hope you will be inspired by a person you know, or even one you don't, to join us, get involved, and take action to fight breast cancer.

Health Tip: How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam

Get the facts.
Breast self-exam, as part of a 3-part program (including self-exam, mammograms and clinical breast exams every 3 years starting at age 20) can be an important element in the early detection of breast cancer. But how many of us really know how?

Here, a step-by-step guide on 3 different ways to perform a breast self-exam:
IN THE SHOWER

• Put one hand behind your head, elbow facing upward
  

• With the pads of your three middle fingers, move your hand over the entire breast area
  

• Use right hand for left breast, left hand for right breast
  

• Use one of the three following patterns to examine your breasts: 1)Circle: in a series of circles around your nipple, middle of breast, and outside perimeter of breast; 2) Up & Down: up and down in a zig zag pattern from top to bottom over the entire breast; or 3) Wedge: in a series of "wedges", working from the nipple outward in 8 or so sections
  

For consistency, be sure to examine the same way each time, using the pattern and technique recommended by your healthcare professional at your clinical breast exam. (The American Cancer society recommends the up & down pattern.) Check for lumps, knots or thickenings.

LYING DOWN

• Place a pillow or towel under your right shoulder, with your right hand behind your head.
  

• Using your left hand, follow the same technique (using one of the above patterns) as in the shower. Then lower your right arm slightly and with your left hand, check your right underarm.
  

• Check for lumps, knots or thickenings.
  

• Repeat on the other side, using your right hand to check the left breast and underarm.
  

IN FRONT OF A MIRROR

• With your hands firmly pressing down on your hips, check for changes in shape, size or skin texture of your breasts. Then raise your arms overhead and check again. Be sure to note any swelling, redness or skin dimpling. Also be sure to check for any changes in your nipple or unusual discharge.
  

Be sure to perform a self-exam monthly (perhaps after your periods when your breasts are not full or tender) and report any changes or irregularities to your healthcare professional immediately.

An important note: This guide is not intended as a replacement for medical care. For a complete diagnosis and course of treatment, please see your doctor.

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has a great resource in its Breast Cancer Basics Library. Be sure to check it out for video and articles about everything from more details on how to perform a self exam to understanding the stages of breast cancer.