Vital Changes Need To Be Made

Hello again!

It's been a few days since I last spoke with you, but I wanted to share something that popped up on my Facebook page today:

                                                       C/O. Breakthrough Breast Cancer

This is the text that went along with it: 

"In 2005, 45% of women said they didn’t check their breasts because they didn’t know how. Last year, that figure was just 17%. This is brilliant progress, but we will not stop here. 

Alongside our monthly breast check reminder emails and social posts, Breakthrough Breast Cancer have been working equally hard to spread the message that checking your breasts regularly and being aware of the signs and symptoms of breast cancer could make all the difference to someone’s life. Their Touch Look Check (TLC) awareness message has been widely acclaimed by health professionals and here we take a closer look at how the idea was conceived and where it is going: http://bit.ly/1Gpruq8"

I shared this post from another Facebook friend. 

How many people do you think liked it? Zero.

How many people do you think SHARED it? Zero.

This frustrates me a little, not because I'm a Facebook-'like' hungry young adult, but because posts like this are important! We're past the "like for 'you're the one'" from when we were younger, naive and knew no better. Yes, we should be posting things that mean something to us, and not everyone would feel comfortable with sharing that image. But we SHOULD feel comfortable with it. ALL of us! It holds a very important message that needs to be spread, and social media is the best way to do that in this day and age where media and the internet rule the world.

Although my last blog post focused on CoppaFeel!, the charity I am involved with, it helps to remember there are others out there trying to get the same, important, message out there to the public. It shows just how many of us want to help the cause.

The post above by 'Breast Cancer Campaign' showcases an image and phrase promoted by 'Breakthrough Breast Cancer'. They are trying to spread the importance on checking your breasts, and their website has some useful tips on how to do this and what to look out for. There is also a helpful video, which I myself have watched, and would recommend to anyone who's unsure of how to check themselves. If you feel embarrassed about checking, this video will certainly help - if these woman can do it on camera, you can do it in the privacy of your home I'm sure!

Here is the link to Breakthrough Breast Cancer's website: http://www.breakthrough.org.uk/about-breast-cancer/touch-look-check

I think the 'TLC - Touch, Look, Check' campaign is a great one to follow - the instructions are simple, and it's easy to remember.

Of course, I would also recommend this page from the CoppaFeel! website: http://coppafeel.org/boob-check/

This has some extra info, plus links to websites if you'd like to find out more about checking you breasts.

From what I've learnt, sometimes it's easier to pick a date each month to give yourself a check. It's vital to know your own body, and especially when you're younger this can change throughout the month due to your periods and hormone levels fluctuating. Feeling your breasts at different points throughout the month is a good idea so you can identify these changes, but if you are a forgetful or busy person, picking a date is sometimes more suitable. Perhaps the first or last day of every month? Or your birthday, then repeat the check on that day each month?

If you're not sure you can even remind yourself, CoppaFeel! have a reminder service. In fact, we have several!

Go to this page here: http://coppafeel.org/remind-me/ to find out how CoppaFeel! can remind you to check your boobs, and maybe sign up a friend! Don't abuse the power of knowing your friends phone number, but a monthly boob check text? Maybe she'd be cool with that (I'd get her approval first though!).

I hope this post has encouraged a few more of you to share important messages online - use your power and influence on the internet for the greater good! And please click on the links throughout the post to find out how you can check yourself and what the signs to look out for are.

Until next time,

- Caitlin xxx

From the very boob beginning...

Hi all!

Now, before I get any questions or comments referring to the title: no. No, there will be no images of MY boobs gracing the pages of this blog! Just lots of lovely information for you to read instead. If that's not what you're into then please DON'T go away - some of what I have to say might apply to you, and I wouldn't want you to miss out!

Ever since watching 'Kris: Dying to Live' on a BBC1 late-night repeat, I have become very passionate about the charity 'CoppaFeel!' and the great work they do. If you don't know much or anything about them, please go to coppafeel.org or to the CoppaFeel! tab at the top of this page (underneath the description). And, after seeing the documentary, I have a huge amount of respect for Kris Hallenga. She shows us that, although diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer at the age of 23, you should not have to spend your whole life fighting - you should remember to live as well.

Inspired by her, I naturally jumped at the chance to volunteer with the charity. After seeing an advertisement for new recruits in the form of 'Uni Boob Team' (UBT) Leaders and Members, I filled out an application. I was (and still am at the time of writing this) in Australia, so when I got the call to confirm a place to train as UBT Leader, I never answered the phone! I'd filled out the application on a whim (despite me wanting to be involved with the charity for at least a year prior), so I never imagined the missed calls I was getting were from them! Luckily, I decided to spend £1.50 and check my voicemail (£1.50 for voicemail - I know!), and I got a very exciting message offering me a place to volunteer for CoppaFeel!.

I'd been wanting to keep the news quiet, as I am unable to train for the role until September, but I want to get the social media up and running, and that means involving people I know! Plus my face will be on the UBT website at some point, and I'll want to share that with you!

My position, as I understand it, will be to help CoppaFeel! with their campaigns throughout the year, and try and spread their messages as much as possible. By being a UBT Leader at BIMM Bristol, I can get my classmates involved, and I hope to use my management skills and other students' talents (it is a music university after all!) to get CoppaFeel! and what they stand for even more recognition.

We start small, and we start now. I have been set up with a Facebook page. Just liking that page would be a huge help - posts on events and campaigns will appear there, plus lots of useful information. If anyone reading this, be you a friend, my family or a complete stranger, please go and 'like' COPPAFEEL! UBT BIMM . The more likes we get, the better start we have for spreading information about future events - and the academic year won't have even started yet!

I am so SO excited to be a part of this charity - it may seem like nothing to some, but I urge you to read up on it's importance, it could save your life.

- Caitlin x