Massage those breasts… It may save your life!
Therapist Liesl Headley
‘FEEL it, find it, and fight it’ was the general theme of a breast cancer awareness seminar that was held virtually last Friday night. It stressed the importance of “feeling those breasts” right at home to ensure that they remain healthy and cancer-free.
This annual meeting by pioneer for women’s health Liesl Headley which aimed at emphasizing cancer prevention. preventing saw more than one hundred people tuning in.
It touched on many issues related to breast care and health including wearing the right type of bra, myths about the breasts, and how women can care for their breasts and check for lumps.
Headley was joined by Dr. Heather Morris-Wilson, a dermatologist and the Director of the Leprosy Clinic inside the Palms Compound, along with Natasha Goodman, who has been certified in massage therapy for the past nine years.
Goodman, in her presentation referred to the challenges that a housewife might face in finding the time to care for her body. “Being home managers, they shoulder heavy responsibilities so having a moment of bliss is a luxury to them,” she said.
She pointed to some of the factors that may affect women’s attitude towards their breasts, fear was among those factors she listed. She opined that women are fearful, in the sense that they prefer not to know what is happening to their bodies.
She said too there continues to be a lack of information and education on the importance of breast care. Some women, according to Goodman, view breasts as mere sexual organs and hence they are very self-conscious about having them touched.
She believes too that some women also lack the confidence needed to get them checked, and they are not even aware that they can do a breast massage or an examination right at home. “Feel it, find it and fight it. Be proactive and not reactive,” Goodman urged.
Meanwhile, the presenters also explained some of the myths associated with the care of the breasts including that some women may think that since there is no cancer in the family, they are not susceptible to the disease.
The other myths also include that young girls breasts do not sag, push-ups can tighten the breasts, small breasts are healthier, self-examinations are not necessary and that nursing makes the breasts saggy.
It was stressed that women should have a good idea of what their breasts look and feel like so that they can be able to observe any changes that make occur in them.
Headley, who owns Nature’s Own Body Clinic at 95 First Street, Alberttown, thanked everyone for attending and said she is hoping to do something bigger for next year.
Her clinic can be contacted on 622 6064 or by email, headleyliesl67@gmail.com.
