Pink October and breast self-examination

Ding Dong .. It's October! The perfect opportunity to remind you of the importance of feeling your breasts.. and not just for pleasure 🙂

Why raise awareness about breast cancer? 

As every year, the beginning of autumn marks an important awareness campaign against breast cancer. In 2020, the WHO recorded more than 2.3 million breast cancers in people with clitorises, including 685,000 deaths worldwide.

A figure, not the most reassuring, that leads me to remind you to take care of yourself.

How? I will share tips with you to spot potential anomalies yourself. This will allow you to be taken care of quickly in case of a problem.

I'm not trying to make you panic! But I am aware that over time, we may tend to no longer be very attentive to speeches like “a screening mammogram is necessary every 2 years.” We tend to perceive this check-up as an additional constraint and “I feel good, so why bother”..

Symptoms do not necessarily alert us from the beginning, and that's why checking your chest is a good start because it is potentially a way to save your life! Just that..

Pink October, who is concerned? 

EVERYONE!

A popular belief is that breast cancers only concern the female gender. Wrong! Our representatives of the clitoris team are not the only ones concerned. If the breasts of our penis-bearing counterparts are called “pecs,” they are indeed breasts.. Just with less fat!

Therefore, cancer can also strike their chest! Forgive me the pun, but as bad as it may be, I think the information will have a better chance of sticking with you.. Which may save the life of one of your friends, or loved ones, if they follow the wise advice you will have given them after reading this article!

Screening: at the doctor but also at home.. 

You know, when it comes to cancer, the earlier it is detected, the higher the chances of survival can increase. And there are things to do to contribute to the diagnosis. Of course, my advice will not allow you to put your name on the badge of a nice white coat. It will not replace a visit to the doctor, but you can detect the presence of anomalies to react quickly.

Have you ever heard of self-examination? It's a simple and totally painless method that can be practiced at home, at any time. How do you do it? I'll explain!

For people with clitorises 

A visual check-up..

Every month, after your menstrual cycle is over, when your breast has returned to its usual shape and size, you will examine it (let yourself be guided on how to proceed with this video). Doing it monthly allows you to become familiar with your breast, and to notice when something is out of the ordinary.

Start by undressing and standing in front of a mirror, either sitting or standing, it doesn't matter. Let your arms hang alongside your body, and keep your back as straight as possible. Look at your breast! If you notice a lump or unusual asymmetry, it is better to consult. There may be nothing, but it’s better to be sure!

Then, take a closer look! Are there any abnormal discharges from your nipples? Have spots or folds appeared on your breasts? Are there cracks or crusts? Do you see redness? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions or notice another unusual element, also make an appointment with a doctor.

.. Then proceed to palpation

Raise your left arm and palpate your left breast using the fingertips of your right hand. Perform the palpation from the outside of the breast towards the inside. You are checking to see if a mass is present or if the palpation causes you to feel pain (even moderate) or itching! Then continue the palpation on the area between your breast and your armpit. Finally, you will finish by palpating the armpit itself.

The last step of self-examination is to check that no abnormal discharge is occurring from the nipple. To do this, use two fingers and gently pinch your nipple. If blood, milk, or any other substance escapes from it, it is necessary to consult quickly. If this happens, don't panic, inhale and exhale slowly, call your doctor, explain the situation, they will be there to help you!

Nothing abnormal on the left side? Good! You just have to perform the same actions for your right breast!

For people with a penis

Much less common, breast cancers in people with a penis account for about 0.5 to 1% of global figures. However, it is still super important to check the appearance of your chest! Especially since the check-up turns out to be much easier to perform on you!

You will look for the same signs of anomalies as your counterparts:

• Discharges from the nipple (regardless of the type of substance that escapes)
• Presence of cracks / crusts or open lesions that are slow to heal
• Swelling, pain, or irritation
• Presence of a mass (often at the hollow of your armpit)
• Nipples pointing inward can also be a sign!

The visual check-up will be more obvious to perform, you will see more quickly if something is unusual. For palpation, perform the same gestures as for a person with a clitoris. Use two fingers of one hand to palpate the breast on the other side, then the area between the breast and the armpit, and the armpit itself. This part of your body contains less fat than the other sex, so you will more easily feel everything that is present under your skin.

A cause so important that we contribute our part to the effort! 

You have known for 15 years now, Passage du Désir accompanies you in this fantastic quest for a fulfilling sexuality. We teach you to decipher the language of your body, to understand its needs and desires to explore everything that intimacy has best to offer you.

Passage du Désir is not just a machine for good advice and a distributor of orgasms. No.. it goes much further than that in reality! Your well-being and health are truly important to us.

That is why this year again, Passage du Désir is committed to supporting Pink October! How? By donating 1€ to the Curie Institute, a cancer research and treatment center, for each purchase of our selected products.

Which ones? Our divine pebble Vibrating Hera, our organic and divinely fruity massage oil Flora, and finally, our magic wand, the powerful Wand Byblis for massages to die for!

Moreover, throughout the month of October and in partnership with Womanizer, we offer you a "Free boobs" necklace and an educational card on self-palpation with the purchase of a Womanizer (while stocks last).

The entire Passage du Désir team sends positive vibes to all those who are fighting, have fought, know someone who is fighting, or have lost someone who fought against breast cancer! 💜💜💜