MINNEAPOLIS — Welcome to the Buddy Check 11 family!
Finding breast cancer in its early stages is what the Buddy Check 11 program is all about. Hundreds of Minnesotans are members of the Buddy Check 11 family. All of us share the same goal --- to win the fight against breast cancer.
Every day in Minnesota another eight women develop breast cancer. It is the second most common cancer among women (men can get breast cancer too.) The good news? If the cancer is detected early enough, the survival rate can be as high as 95%.
It is up to you!
Clinical exams are important when it comes to detecting breast cancer. However, by checking your breasts on a regular basis, you will mostly likely be the first to notice changes. What should you be looking for? The Susan G. Komen organization says these are some of the issues that should be discussed with a doctor:
- Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
- Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
- Change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
- New pain in one spot that doesn't go away
It's better with a Buddy!
You are your best health advocate. Yet there is also strength in numbers. Choose someone to be your Buddy Check buddy. It can be your mother, daughter, sister, brother, husband, boyfriend, school friend, significant other, neighbor, or co-worker. Make a commitment to remind each other on a regular basis to be breast self-aware.
We are here to help
Health Fair 11 launched the Buddy Check 11 program in 1987. It is a cause that we've championed for years. When you sign up for the Buddy Check 11 program, we will send you emails on the 11th of each month to remind you to be breast self-aware. Here's the link to enroll: /email Be sure to check the box for Buddy Check found in the opt-in menu at the bottom of the form.
Health Fair 11 is a nonprofit organization with a mission to provide health education and free or low-cost health screenings to the people in our community. Health Fair 11 operates with the support of KARE 11.
We hope you'll share Buddy Check 11 with the important people in your life.
