A Reminder for Mother’s Day

As Mother’s Day approaches, Koning encourages mothers, daughters, and all women to take charge of their breast health as a form of self-care. Breast cancer is the most common cancer and causes the greatest cancer-related deaths among women, so we cannot be afraid to talk about it and actively learn more about what we can do for ourselves.

Early-stage breast cancers can be found with regular breast imaging, before any warning signs or symptoms appear. However, breast cancer is also found after warning signs persist. It is important to be aware of these signs; keeping track of what is and isn’t normal for you can make a life-saving difference.

See a health care provider if you notice any of these breast changes:

• Hard lump or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
• Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
• Dimpling, puckering or bulging of the skin
• Itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
• Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
• Nipple discharge
• Persistent new pain in one spot 

According to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, adult women of all ages should do a breast self-exam at least once a month. This is no substitute for an imaging exam, but medical professionals believe there is inherent value in women being familiar with their own bodies – the same bodies that can carry and grow life. 

We wish all moms a very happy, healthy Mothers Day!