I touch myself.

I touch myself. Donʻt you? I touch myself as much as possible...

If you donʻt, you should too. Especially the LADIES... In the shower. In front of a mirror. Why not get comfy and do it in bed. You donʻt need anything else but your fingers. 

Just relax and let your fingers explore...

Using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area.  Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your healthcare provider."

So... what did you think I was talking about? 

Please read on for more information and pictures on how to touch yourself... 

But first... a DISCLAIMER. I am not a doctor. I am not a nurse. I am not a sex-education teacher. I am not affiliated with any sort of health industry. You are reading this blog with the full knowledge that Pilialoha K. Nathaniel is not authorized by any school, institution or government to give health and medical advise. If you follow any advise in this blog it is at your own discretion and at your own risk. Okay? Nod if you agree. If you read anything past this paragraph that means you have nodded and you agree.

Hello my FAMILY, my FRIENDS and all you lovely people who have joined me on this "touchy" subject...

TOUCH YOURSELF!!! I am starting a "Touch Yourself" campaign in my family. So... While many of you... my family and friends... are taking steps to improve your health and bodies... You must check your bodies regularly!!! If you do not do this already you NEED TO START. All of you... Men and Women!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE KNOW YOUR BODIES!!! 

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. For more information on breast exams please go to this link: BREAST SELFIE for the National Breast Cancer Foundation instructions on how to give yourself a monthly breast exam. 

1) IN THE SHOWER - Using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your healthcare provider. 

2) IN FRONT OF A MIRROR - Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling, or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women's breasts do, so look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes, particularly on one side. 

3) LYING DOWN - When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit.Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

And while we are throwing our pink flags (GO NFL Referees!!!) and our National Football League teams (go Niners!!!) are wearing pink shoes to promote BREAST CANCER AWARENESS ... Let us BE AWARE of our ENTIRE BODIES.

So let us TOUCH OURSELVES!!!

Skin Cancer is the most common form of CANCER in the United States. According to www.skincancer.org ONE person DIES every HOUR from MELANOMA.  Hereʻs a chart to follow from www.skincancer.org:

1	Examine your face, especially the nose, lips, mouth, and ears - front and back. Use one or both mirrors to get a clear view.
2	Thoroughly inspect your scalp, using a blow dryer and mirror to expose each section to view. Get a friend or family member to help, if you can.
3	Check your hands carefully: palms and backs, between the fingers and under the fingernails. Continue up the wrists to examine both front and back of your forearms.
4	Standing in front of the full-length mirror, begin at the elbows and scan all sides of your upper arms. Don't forget the underarms
5	Next focus on the neck, chest, and torso. Women should lift breasts to view the underside.
6	With your back to the full-length mirror, use the hand mirror to inspect the back of your neck, shoulders, upper back, and any part of the back of your upper arms you could not view in step 4.
7	Still using both mirrors, scan your lower back, buttocks, and backs of both legs.
8	Sit down; prop each leg in turn on the other stool or chair. Use the hand mirror to examine the genitals. Check front and sides of both legs, thigh to shin, ankles, tops of feet, between toes and under toenails. Examine soles of feet and heels.

You should be CHECKING YOUR BODY for signs of CHANGE... ONCE A MONTH!!! This skin cancer self-exam does not only give you the chance to examine your body for lesions, bumps and spots... it also gives you a chance to KNOW YOUR BODY!

KNOW YOUR BODY.

LOVE YOUR BODY.

Love,

Happy Nathaniel

Go to: National Breast Cancer Awareness Month to learn how you can promote Breast Cancer awareness.

Update 10/7/13... Cousin Jastine wanted me to promote Vagina Awareness as well. Get a Pap smear!!!!! Obgyns are not scary people!!! Ask your Mothers, Aunties, girlfriends and women you trust for their recommendation. 

According to Wikipedia: Worldwide, Cervical Cancer is the second most common and fifth deadliest form of cancer in women.

From the National Cancer Institute at www.cancer.gov:

Cervical Cancer is:

Cancer that forms in tissues of the cervix (the organ connecting the uterus and vagina). It is usually a slow-growing cancer that may not have symptoms but can be found with regular Pap tests (a procedure in which cells are scraped from the cervix and looked at under a microscope). Cervical cancer is almost always caused by human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.