Miriam Mutebi: I’m back with a little series called Keeping A breast With Dr. Miriam

Miriam Mutebi shared on LinkedIn:

“Avoiding Booby Traps.

After a 3 week hiatus following the end of my 54 Days of Cancer Advcoacy, I’m back with a fun little series that’s close to my heart called Keeping A breast With Dr. Miriam:)

So, it’s still Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and into November, I want to chat a lot about breast health – what to look for, what to avoid, and how to keep our girls (yes, our boobs!) healthy. No heavy medical stuff here, I promise. Just straight-up, real talk, like I’d give my sister.

Let’s kick things off by talking about ‘booby traps.’

No, I’m not talking about those pesky wardrobe malfunctions or spy movies – I’m talking about the myths, misconceptions, and fears around breast cancer that trap us into worry.

First things first: don’t panic!

A lump doesn’t automatically mean cancer. I get it; any change in your body can be scary, but most breast lumps are not cancerous. In fact, 9/10 breast lumps turn out to be benign (fancy word for harmless).

That lump you’re feeling might just be you dealing with things like cysts or fibrocystic changes (that’s a mouthful, right?). Just check it out with your doctor, the next time you’re due for your physical and they’ll guide you.

Secondly, every woman should get to know her ‘girls’ more intimately. Become your own breast BFF. Breast awareness is knowing how your breasts look and feel, so that you can notice any changes. Breast self-checks help you know what’s normal for you.

And please, if you’re over 40, don’t wait until something feels off to get screened (more on screening later). Remember, early detection saves lives!

I hope you’re ready to learn about everything breast cancer, from early signs to knowing when to take action – and how to dodge the myths that can cause unnecessary freak-outs. There’ll be some straight talk and a few laughs (hopefully) along the way.

PS: Yesterday, something exciting happened. The Africa Breast Cancer Council was officially launched by a group of trailblazing African women, who have come together to tackle breas tcancer on the continent. I can’t wait to tell you more in a future post.

For now, grab your tea. Let’s bust those myths and avoid the booby traps together. You in?”

More posts featuring Miriam Mutebi on oncodaily.com

Miriam Mutebi is a Breast Surgical Oncologist and Assistant Professor in the Department of Surgery at the Aga Khan University Hospital in Nairobi, Kenya. She is the President of the African Organization for Research and Training in Cancer (AORTIC), and past president for Kenya Society of Hematology and Oncology (KESHO) and on the Board of Directors of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC).

She is the co-founder of the Pan African Women’s Association of Surgeons and is part of the Kenya Association of Women Surgeons. She is an avid supporter for the education and support for women, especially in surgery and she aims to provide mentorship for women in surgery and to improve women’s health and surgical care in Africa. She is currently pursuing a pilot’s license in order to extend breast care services to marginalized areas.