Checking Your Boobs

This probably sounds like a really weird thing to write a blog post on, but it's important, so why not write about it.

Over two years ago, when I was 17-years old, I found a lump in one of my breasts. It was a pretty sizeable thing and I'm not going to lie - I panicked. I think finding something like that is something that you know could happen to you, but you don't expect to happen to you, and it was scary.

I headed to my GP and she sent me to a local hospital and to their breast clinic where they took an ultrasound, a biopsy and told me that they thought it was a fibroadenoma.

Fibroadenomas are non-cancerous, benign lumps made out of fibrous breast tissue. They're pretty common, especially in young women, but can occur at any age. So, my practitioner told me not to panic, but that they did want to remove the lump because it was so big. A few months later I went in for surgery. They removed the lump under general anaesthetic and I was able to go home later that same day. I have been left with a small scar, but the surgeon was clever and managed to mostly hide it.

If you're well enough to instagram, you can't be that sick.

Why am I telling you all this? Well, I think it highlights the importance of knowing your own body and making sure you do check it from time to time for any abnormalities. Also, I think there is a culture among young people to just assume that because they are young they are also healthy. This case might not be the best example because fibroadenomas are benign, but any abnormalities in your breasts could indicate something wrong - so get it checked out!

Boys this goes for you too. If you notice something that you don't think is quite right just pop to your GP and get an opinion from a health professional. Don't feel embarrassed, it is much better safer than sorry!