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 only for pleasure 🙂

Why raise awareness about breast cancer? 

As every year, the start 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 a clitoris, including 685,000 deaths worldwide.

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

How? I am going to share some tips to help you spot any potential anomalies yourself. This will allow you to be treated quickly in the event of a problem.

I am not trying to make you panic! But I am aware that over time, we can tend to no longer pay much attention to messages like "a screening mammogram is necessary every 2 years". We tend to perceive this check-up as an additional constraint and think "I feel fine, what's the point?"..

Symptoms do not necessarily alert us from the start, and that is why checking your chest is a good start as it is potentially a way to save your own life! No less than that..

Pink October, who is concerned? 

EVERYONE!

A popular belief holds that breast cancers only affect women. Wrong! Our representatives of the clitoris team are not the only ones concerned. Even if the breasts of our penis-having counterparts go by the name of "pecs", they are still breasts.. Just with less fat!

Consequently, cancer can also strike their chest! Forgive me the pun, but however bad it may be, I tell myself that the information will have more chance of sticking in your memory.. Which may perhaps save the life of one of your friends, gold your loved ones, if they follow the sound advice you give them after reading this article!

Screening: at the doctor's but also at home.. 

As you know, when it comes to cancer, the earlier it is detected, the greater the chances of survival can be. And there are things you can 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 in no way replace a visit to the doctor, but you will be able to detect the presence of anomalies in order to react quickly.

Have you heard of breast self-examination? It is a simple and completely painless method that can be practised at home, at any time. How do you do it? I'll explain!

For people with a clitoris 

A visual check-up..

Each month, after your menstrual cycle is over, that is when your chest has returned to its usual shape and size, you are going to feel it (let yourself be guided on the steps to follow with the help of this video). Because doing so monthly allows you to get to know your chest well, and to notice when something is out of the ordinary.

We start by undressing and standing in front of a mirror, either sitting gold standing, it does not matter at all. Let your arms hang down by your sides, and keep your back as straight as possible. Look at your chest! If you notice an unusual lump gold asymmetry, it is best to consult a doctor. There may be nothing wrong, but it is better to be sure!

Then, look more closely! Are there any abnormal discharges from your nipples? Have any spots gold folds appeared on your breasts? Are there any cracks gold crusts? Do you see any redness? If you answered "yes" to any of these questions gold notice any other unusual element, also make an appointment with your doctor.

.. Then on to palpation 

Raise your left arm and feel your left breast using the fingertips of your right hand. Carry out the palpation from the outside of the breast towards the inside. You are checking whether a lump is present or whether 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, finish by feeling the armpit itself.

The last step of the 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 gold any other substance escapes from it, it is necessary to seek medical advice quickly. If this happens, don't panic, breathe in and out slowly, call your doctor, explain the situation to them — they will be there to help you!

Nothing to report on the left side? Great! All that's left is to perform the same gestures for your right breast!

For people with a penis 

Far less common, breast cancers in people with a penis account for about 0.5 to 1% of the global figures. Even so, it remains super important to check the appearance of your chest! Especially since the check-up turns out to be much simpler to carry out on yourself!

You are going to look for the same signs of anomalies as in your fellow patients:

• Nipple discharge (regardless of the type of substance that escapes from it)
• Presence of cracks / crusts or open lesions that are slow to heal
• Swelling, pain or irritation
• Presence of a lump (often in the hollow of your armpit)
• Nipples that turn inward can also be a sign!

The visual check-up will be more straightforward to carry out; you will more quickly notice if something is unusual. When it comes to palpation, perform the same gestures as for a person with a clitoris. To do this, use two fingers of one hand to feel 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 anything present under your skin.

Such an important cause that we are doing our bit to help! 

As you have known for 15 years now, Passage du Désir supports you in this fantastic quest for a fulfilling sex life. We help you decipher the language of your body, understand its needs and desires to explore all that intimacy has to offer you.

Passage du Désir is not just a machine dispensing good advice and a distributor of orgasms. No.. it goes much further than that in reality! Your intimate essentials and your health are truly close to our hearts.

That is why, once again this year, Passage du Désir is committed to supporting Pink October! How? By donating to the Institut Curie, a cancer research and treatment centre, €1 for each purchase from our product selection.

Which ones? Our divine palm vibrator Héra, our organic and divinely fruity massage oil Flora, and finally, our magic wand, the super-powerful Wand Byblis for massages to die for!

Moreover, throughout the entire month of October and in partnership with Womanizer, we are offering you a "Free boobs" necklace and an educational card on self-examination 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! 💜💜💜