Pink October and breast self-examination

Ding-dong… It’s October! The perfect time to remind you how important it is to check your breasts — and not just for pleasure 🙂

Why raise awareness of breast cancer? 

As it does every year, the start of autumn marks a major breast cancer awareness campaign. In 2020, the WHO recorded more than 2.3 million cases of breast cancer among people with a clitoris, including 685,000 deaths worldwide.

It’s a sobering figure, and a reminder to take care of yourself.

How? I’m going to share some tips to help you spot anything unusual yourself. That way, if there’s a problem, you can get help quickly.

I’m not trying to make you panic! But I know that, over time, it’s easy to stop paying much attention to messages like “you need a screening mammogram every 2 years”. We can start to see it as yet another chore and think, “I feel fine, so why bother?”..

Symptoms don’t necessarily alert us straight away, which is why checking your breasts is a good start: it could potentially save your life! Yes, really..

Pink October: who does it affect? 

EVERYONE!

There’s a common belief that breast cancer only affects women. Wrong! Our clitoris-owning friends aren’t the only ones affected. Our friends with penises may call their breasts “pecs”, but they’re still breasts.. Just with less fatty tissue!

So breast cancer can affect their chests too! Forgive the pun, but bad as it is, I reckon it might help the message stick.. And that could save the life of a friend or loved one if they follow the advice you pass on after reading this article!

Screening: at the doctor’s, but at home too.. 

As you know, when it comes to cancer, the earlier it’s detected, the better the chances of survival can be. And there are things you can do to help spot it. Of course, my advice won’t make you a doctor. It’s no substitute for a doctor’s appointment, but it can help you notice anything unusual so you can act quickly.

Have you heard of breast self-examination? It’s a simple, completely painless method you can use at home at any time. How do you do it? Let me explain!

For people with clitorises 

A visual check..

Each month, once your period has ended and your breasts have returned to their usual shape and size, feel them for any changes (let this video guide you through how to do it). Doing this every month helps you get to know your breasts and notice when something is out of the ordinary.

Start by undressing and facing a mirror. You can sit or stand; it doesn’t matter. Let your arms hang by your sides and keep your back as straight as possible. Look at your breasts! If you notice a lump or an unusual difference between them, it’s best to see a doctor. It may be nothing, but it’s better to know for sure!

Next, take a closer look! Is there any unusual discharge from your nipples? Have any marks or dimples appeared on your breasts? Are there any cracks or scabs? Can you see any redness? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, or notice anything else unusual, make an appointment with your doctor.

.. Then it’s time to feel for any changes 

Raise your left arm and use the fingertips of your right hand to feel your left breast. Work from the outside of the breast towards the centre. You’re checking for a lump, or whether you feel any pain (even mild pain) or itching! Then feel the area between your breast and armpit. Finish by feeling the armpit itself.

The final step in a breast self-examination is to check for any unusual nipple discharge. To do this, gently squeeze your nipple between two fingers. If blood, milk or any other substance comes out, you should see a doctor promptly. If this happens, don’t panic: breathe in and out slowly, call your doctor and explain what’s happened. They’ll be there to help!

Nothing unusual on the left? Good! Now all that’s left is to repeat the same steps on your right breast!

For people with penises 

Much less common, breast cancers in people with penises account for around 0.5 to 1% of cases overall. Even so, it’s still really important to check how your chest looks! Especially as the check is much easier to do on yourself!

Look for the same signs of anything unusual as your fellow women:

• Nipple discharge (whatever the substance)
• Cracks, scabs or open sores that are slow to heal
• Swelling, pain or irritation
• A lump (often in the hollow of your armpit)
• Nipples turning inwards can also be a sign!

The visual check will be easier: you’ll spot anything unusual more quickly. When feeling for changes, follow the same steps as for a person with a clitoris. Use two fingers of one hand to feel the breast on the opposite side, then the area between the breast and armpit, and finally the armpit itself. As this part of your body contains less fatty tissue than it does in people of the other sex, you’ll be able to feel what’s beneath your skin more easily.

It’s such an important cause that we’re doing our bit! 

As you’ve known for 15 years now, Passage du Désir is here to support you on the wonderful journey towards a fulfilling sex life. We help you understand what your body is telling you, and recognise its needs and desires so you can explore the best that intimacy has to offer.

Passage du Désir isn’t just a source of good advice and orgasms. No.. there’s much more to it than that! Your wellbeing and health genuinely matter to us.

That’s why Passage du Désir is proud to support Pink October again this year! How? By donating €1 to the Institut Curie, a cancer research and treatment centre, for every purchase from our selection of products.

Which ones? Our heavenly Héra palm vibrator, our deliciously fruity organic massage oil Flora, and finally our magic wand, the ultra-powerful Byblis Wand, for incredible massages!

What’s more, throughout October, in partnership with Womanizer, we’re giving you a "Free boobs" necklace and an educational breast self-examination card with every Womanizer purchase (while stocks last).

The whole Passage du Désir team is sending positive thoughts to everyone fighting breast cancer, everyone who has fought it, everyone who knows someone fighting it, and everyone who has lost someone to it! 💜💜💜