Taking my health (and breasts) Into my Own Hands

I’m not going to lie. For a long time, I only got my boobs checked when I went to the doctor. But the girls are getting too old to not get a regular check. So, let’s figure it out together!

In my defense, I used to do it regularly, when I lived at my grandmother's house.  The trigger for this habit- The self breast exam card that hung in the shower. When I moved, I didn’t take it with me. No habit reminder, No boob checks… For almost thirty years. When I went to the doctor, and they did the breast exam, would say to myself, “I need to start doing this again.”  but there were no cues in my life that made it top of mind.

In preparation for writing this essay, I encountered story after story of women who had not engaged in regular self checks, and as a result, learned of their cancer status in late stages.  In fact, that’s what happens so very often in women of color- we put it off because there is work, family obligations and everyone else's needs and desires to attend to. When we turn toward our own care, we take a pain killer and keep going.  

Can we stop doing that, sis?  

I don’t want to wait until the end of this writing to offer you a free tool for getting you into the self exam habit. Visit the Joy to Life Foundation to get a free printable exam card right now. 

Early detection isn't just a slogan; it's a game changer.  When caught early and localized, breast cancer has a 99% 5-year survival rate.  Beyond knowing our own bodies, we need medical tools built with our bodies in mind. That brings me to the Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS).

For 31 years, researchers at Boston University have been running this longitudinal study, tracking the health and wellness of thousands of Black women. The BWHS is a goldmine of data for tracking, treating and preventing health complications common to black women. Because standard breast cancer prediction models are often based on data from women of European ancestry, they can be far less accurate for us.  To fix this, the BWHS created their own Breast Cancer Risk Calculator—an assessment tool developed specifically using data from Black women to help us understand our personalized risk factors.

When it comes to breast cancer, the statistics for Black women demand our attention and action.  While breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among Black women, we face unique risks: Black women under 35 are twice as likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer compared to White women, and we are disproportionately impacted by more aggressive forms, like triple-negative breast cancer.  

There are protective factors like breastfeeding, and having children, which are not realistic for me to pursue anymore.  Here are things you can do NOW to reduce your risk: 

• Maintain a Healthy Weight: Fat tissue produces extra hormones like estrogen that can fuel the growth of certain breast cancers.  Lose the weight you can to protect your health for the future.

• Exercise Regularly: Aim for about 150 minutes of moderate physical activity per week.  The online yoga class, and a brisk walk and talk with a friend both count.  The goal is to increase your heart rate and put a load on your bones (Bonus! This protects against osteoporosis too!)

• Limit or Eliminate Alcohol and Quit Smoking: Girl I know… No fun!  But if you are actively putting things in your body that make your body unwell, what other outcomes can we expect?  

• Eat a Whole-Food Diet: Can you get more brightly colored fruits, vegetables, fiber, and vitamin D while limiting ultra-processed foods, added sugars, and processed meats? More FarmerJawn, and less Micky D’s.  And remember, Doritos are a “sometimes snack.” 

• Breastfeed if Possible: Breastfeeding offers strong protection against aggressive  cancer subtypes like triple-negative breast cancer, which disproportionately affects Black women. 

• Evaluate Personal Products: I come from the world of “Baby powder in the summer,”  and research has shown talcum powder to be linked to cancers.  Do you have community or family habits that need review? Visit the Skin Deep Product Database that reviews the ingredients of over 155,000 beauty products.

• Regular Screenings:  Mammograms are the current standard for assessing your breast health.  Yes, they will try to make your breast into a pancake, but a healthy pancake is better than an untouched buoyant boobie. 

Tell your cousins… 

I was preparing to write this blog, and was planning it out with my assistant.  The air was sucked out of the virtual meeting, when she told me of her own experience with breast health.  She had been treated when she was twenty-one for three benign tumors in her breasts.  Her family had a history of breast cancer, and the stressful life she was living in a corporate role was making it hard for her to care for herself the way she deserved.  Family history and lifestyle are also factors in your breast health status.  So do your little cousin a favor, and spill the tea on this.  

And tell the boys too!  

Women are not the only people impacted.  In fact, Beyonces’ father was diagnosed with breast cancer after noticing discharge into his shirts back in 2019.  And Richard Roundtree, the titular (tee hee) character Shaft in 1993.  As Shaft would, he beat that cancer.  

Your Action Plan for October:

• Grab a mirror and do a self-exam.  If you need direction, print the Joy To Life Foundations’ self exam tool

• Visit the Black Women's Health Study and take a few minutes to run your numbers through their Risk Calculator.  I swear, I completed it in less than two minutes.

Take Your Health into Your Own Hands

At Be True Counseling, we believe in taking our health into our own hands. If you are seeking culturally competent care as you come closer to knowing and understanding your true self, schedule a consultation with us today.

#BreastHealth #BlackWomensHealth #SelfCare #BeTrueCounseling #EarlyDetection #WomensWellness