A viral picture from Know Your Lemons, is educating women about how to spot the warning signs of breast cancer.
Last week, Erin Chieze shared the image, which was designed by Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont, to social media, along with an important message.
And it's one we simply can't afford to ignore.
"In the past few days, I have received quite a few private messages about a "game" going around where you post a heart, then you are secretly supposed to state it is for breast cancer awareness,'" she said.
"Someone once posted a picture on Facebook of what breast cancer can look like. Not feel, but look like. In December of 2015 when I saw an indentation that looked like one of those pictures, I instantly knew I had breast cancer. I tried to feel for a tumour, but my tumour was non palpable. I was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 days later and with stage 4 the following month."
A heart, she says, did nothing for self-awareness.
"We need to give REAL information, not cute hearts. Without having seen a picture randomly with real information, I wouldn't have known what to look for," she continues. "Do us a favour, stop playing games with my life and start truly helping people."
Ms Chieze shared that the image she posted from Know Your Lemons, was similar to the one she saw back in 2015 when she received her diagnosis.
"PLEASE, stop playing games that do not actually promote awareness, they often cause people to tune out anything that might even mention the word awareness," Ms Chieze writes. "So if you truly want to help people WITH cancer, or those who will GET cancer, share photos like this one."
A statement released on July 13 by government agency, Cancer Australia highlights that every day, 2 women under the age of 40 are diagnosed with breast cancer. Early detection, the agency notes, provides the best chance of surviving the disease.
And breast awareness is the most effective way to find cancer early.
Cancer Australia notes that some of the breast changes to be aware of include:
- A new lump, or lumpiness, especially if it's only in one breast
- a change in the shape or size of your breast
- a change to the nipple, such as crusting, ulcer, redness or inversion a nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing
- a change in the skin over your breast such as redness or dimpling
- or an unusual pain that doesn't go away.
Cancer Australia further recommends: "For women of all ages who are at increased risk of developing breast cancer it is recommended that an individualised surveillance program be developed in consultation with the woman's general practitioner and/or specialist."
The agency has an online, interactive calculator designed to help women understand their level of risk for breast cancer, compared to other women in their age group. Women are also advised however, to see their doctor about any changes regardless of their calculated level of risk.
You can watch a video about breast changes here:
Other useful links:
Cancer Australia: https://canceraustralia.gov.au
National Breast Cancer Foundation: http://nbcf.org.au
Cancer Council Australia: http://www.cancer.org.au
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