Check your baubles .... go on...Coppafeel

So you are probably wondering what this has got to do with being Fifi Friendly and where I am going to go with this one. Well, here I go. I was one of the thousands of women who did not check their breasts regularly. Given that my mum, a breast cancer survivor, underwent breast cancer surgery and treatment last year, I really have no excuse. The truth is that I did not make it a “thing to do”. It was not a priority. I get up in the morning, I run around making sure the kids are up and out to school, walk the dog….. yadda yadda…life is busy and I forgot to check. Full Stop.

*Pictures are copyright of Coppafeel.org.

A couple of weeks ago this changed. A few sign-worthy things happened that made me think about checking my breasts. Firstly, one of my friend’s gorgeous mum underwent breast cancer surgery. It really took me back to when I found out about mum and broke my heart that they were now going through this. My friend told me that she was shocked at how many women our age were in the same ward as her mum. The truth is breast cancer, like all cancers does not discriminate. Secondly, the next day I saw a Coppafeel advert on TV with Sarah Jane Crawford. She was asking what your boobs feel like normally…. #whatnormalfeelslike. I remember her describing her’s in a couple of words… bean-baggy… and wondered how I would describe mine. The truth was I wasn’t sure.

*Pictures are copyright of Coppafeel.org.

So, I decided that this was a sign for me to get my act together and Coppafeel. Alarmingly I felt something that I was sure had not been there before. It wasn’t a lump but what can only be desribed as a long dent and a bump. I was straight onto numerous breast cancer websites and was alarmed that it is not just lumps you should look out for but a whole load of other symptoms too. How could I not know this?? I remember thinking this could not be. I plucked up the courage to visit my GP who quickly referred my on to meet a consultant.

I am really grateful that I did not have to wait long and was seen a week later… today. This last week has been hellish and one that I would hate to revisit. Lack of sleep, petrifying worry and general life are not a great mix. I have never been so scared about anything in my life. Life was on hold.

Today after an afternoon of being poked, prodded and checked out I was luckily given the all clear. To say the relief was massive is such an understatment. I am so grateful that I am not writing this blog with a different ending. It did leave me thinking, why I have not made self examination a thing to do in my diary each month. Such a wake up call. I love that the Coppafeel website has a reminder service for those, like me, who might have forgotten to do this regularly

Right now, do you know what your boobs normally feel like? If you don’t then you are possibly not checking regularly. So go on, check your baubles, sign up to the reminder service with Coppafeel and help stamp out the late detection of breast cancer. It could be one of the most worthwhile and lifesaving couple of minutes you ever spend.

So boobs, I will see you this time next month for our self examination. It’s a date.

Will you challenge 5 of your friends to take 5 minutes out of their month to check? Spread the word…. #whatnormalfeelslike

*Pictures are copyright of Coppafeel.org.