New Breast Cancer Method: CheckYourBoobies.org

Check Your Boobies is a non-profit organization dedicated to “educating other women about breast health, breast cancer prevention and early detection in a frank, fun and fear-free manner.” Started by Heike Malakoff in 2003, this Seattle-based organization was inspired after Malakoff’s breast cancer diagnosis.

Breast cancer is a not a highly sought after topic of conversation for most women. In fact, though many women have heard the of the cancer, many do not know how to check if they have the cancer. And if women were taught in high school or college, often it’s a clinical experience where often times the instructor is the only person comfortable in the room. I remember being taught how to check for lumps in my high school sexual education class. The class was composed of both boys and girls. Our teacher, though outspoken about other sex-ed topics, muttered the general instructions while waving her hands around her breasts. She concluded after about 30 seconds, trailing off with, “Well, you know…right?” The boys in the class snickered while the girls nodded their heads, eyes askew, hoping for a quick change in topic.

Check Your Boobies (CYB) takes this uncomfortable topic and addresses it head on through the creation of safe places for breast cancer discussion via the Check Your Boobies parties. These parties are free and have be developed to appeal to women of all ages. According to CYB’s site, the parties are “similar to other women’s gatherings like Tupperware parties [and] book clubs…excepts it’s all about BOOBIES.” A trained CYB health educator will teach the group about breast health such as screening methods and stress the importance of regular mammograms and clinical visits. She will also discuss important lifestyle choices that may prevent the cancer. A breast cancer survivor will then share her story, from anxieties and fears to how she overcame the cancer. These parties are safe-zones where women can express their concerns and support one another.

Over the past 7 years, CYB parties have increased from hosting 7 parties, reaching 85 women, to hosting 158 parties, reaching 5,650 women. Over their 7 years of operation, the organization has held 571 parties, reaching 13,276 women. These parties are held in a variety of places ranging from home parties and hospitals to church groups and college campuses.

If you would like to host one such party on your campus, you can follow this link to CYB @ Campus. Breast cancer can happen to anyone. The more women who are educated about breast cancer and catch the cancer earlier, the more likely they will catch the cancer at its early stages and survive.