Elizabeth + Lynn:: A CanCan Health Education Party

At our last meeting, we met two amazing women: Elizabeth and Lynn. Together, they put faces and facts to what we all know to be a real threat to our health: cancer. These ladies from the Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer threw us a CanCan Education Party to give us the lowdown on knowing our bodies and signs of trouble. In this season of caring for small children and putting ourselves last, they stressed the importance of keeping tabs on ourselves and prioritizing our wellness along with our family's. Their wisdom and techniques could save a life and we hope you took away some helpful tools for assessing yourself in the years to come.

 Click HERE for the recording of Elizabeth and Lynn's talk.

Enjoy!

How do we recognize if anything is out of sorts in our bodies? How do we get a baseline to work from so that we know if something stands out?

Know Yourself

• Know your body, know your body, know your body!
• No one knows your body better than you. Get quiet with yourself sometimes to know if something has changed. Take the time to know the "ins and outs" so you're aware if something is not right.

Find a Healthcare Provider

• You need someone who can advocate with you.

Know Your Family History

• Seek out Mom and Dad, both sides of your family if possible, to write down the family tree of health history. It's important to know where you come from and where you might be at risk. We need to know what genes we're carrying around to be aware.

Breast Exams

• Check in all positions, monthly.
• Get to know your breast tissue. Everyone is different. Understand what is "normal" for you so you're tuned in if something stands out.
• Girl Scout Sign/3-Fingers Method:  Use your first three fingers to do the exam. Your ring finger is the most sensitive to pick up changes.
• 3 Levels of Feeling: light feeling, a little deeper, and a little deeper still. *don't hurt yourself!
• Pattern: start in back (don't forget--breast tissue is back there!) and work your way to the front. Then, up and down. It's like painting a wall. Don't miss any area with 3 levels of pressure.

• Don't ignore your nipples!
• Look for abnormal discharge

• If you notice any skin color changes that are different for you, get it checked. Don't wait.

Ovarian Cancer
The most lethal of all the gynecological cancers, symptoms can be challenging to pick up because they mimic so many other maladies. This is where it is important to be quiet and still with your body. Pay attention so you know if anything is out of order.

Potential symptoms:

• Bloating that doesn't go away
• Marked pain (sharp, dull) in front or back below the belt
• Less appetite/full quickly 
• Pressure, need to urinate frequently

Key:

• Persistent: from 10 days to 2 weeks
• Progressive

You can have other signs and symptoms, too, that aren't normal. Ex. extreme fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, etc.

If you need to get checked out and are having a hard time taking that step, the CanCan ladies will go with you! They are available to you at no cost and will be your advocate. Reach out!

Rivkin Center for Ovarian Cancer

www.rivkin.org

Email: info@rivkin.org

Phone: (206) 215-6200