Father's Day Life Saving Tips
- Vicki Singer Wolf, Editor & Co-Founder
- Jun 18, 2020
- 3 min read
Do the men in your life know they can be diagnosed with breast cancer? Do men realize they have breast too?
On Father’s Day you’re probably thinking about the family of men in your life. In addition to your father or father in law or husband, you probably send wishes to sons, brothers, uncles, friends and neighbors. This Father’s Day would be a great opportunity to help make them all aware that breast cancer is not just a woman’s disease.
With conversations today about pandemics, race, equality, transgender, etc., it's important we learn that men everywhere are at risk of breast cancer too!We talk about different diseases and tragedies all the time with our families, so why not discuss Male Breast Cancer? How many men are diagnosed with male breast cancer and how many die? Male breast cancer accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers. The percentage is small, but is even a small number not important enough? Because it is few, does this mean we should ignore the possibility? For a large percentage of the men diagnosed, it is often more fatal since no one is looking, it is found much later and more progressed. The first step for HIS is to bring awareness. No matter how you look at it-it’s a life threatening disease and male or female, once diagnosed with breast cancer, your life is never the same, for men, the stigma is even greater!
Do the men in your life conduct self-breast exams? Probably not! So who’s checking? This most likely doesn’t take place at their annual physical examination, no one is suggesting a yearly mammogram, and when was the last time they were given an instruction sheet on how to check them-self? We also recommend talking with your doctor if you have a history of cancer(s) in your family. You may be eligible for genetic and additional surveillance testing.
Looking for the right gift? You might just save a life! So start with a simple gift this Father’s Day. Print the self-breast exam instructions below, laminate on your favorite paper, frame it, or present it with that perfect tie inside the box. At HIS Breast Cancer Awareness you can also shop for Male Breast Cancer Awareness t-shirts, wristbands, lapel pins or make a donation in honor of those special people in your life.
Make Father’s Day the perfect reminder time for all men to take a minute out of their day, right after breakfast in bed, to examine their breast (yes men do have breast). It just may be the best Father's Day gift they'll ever receive because it shows how much you really care.
Dad, Thinking of you and missing you always. This is our 20th Father's Day without you but this year, you have mom with you. We love you xoxo
Modah Ani- I am Thankful
Editor; Vicki Wolf, Co-Founder
How To: Male Self Breast Exam
Step 1: Begin by standing in front of a mirror with your arms on your hips to tighten your chest muscles and inspect yourself. Watch for any changes such as dimpling, swelling and areas around the nipple. Raise your arms above your head and continue to examine your breast and arm pit areas.
Step 2: Move around the breast in a circular motion with the fingertips. You can perform this in either an up and down method, a circular or a wedge pattern, but try to be consistent using the same method each time. In addition, check the nipple area for any discharge. Complete on both breast.
Step 3: In addition to standing, you can also examine your breast lying down. To do so, place a pillow under your right shoulder and bend your right arm over your head. Then with your fingertips on your left hand, begin checking by pressing all areas of the breast and armpit. Once completed on the right, move the pillow to under your left shoulder and repeat the same process.
Offering insight and education on male breast cancer and hereditary cancer
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