Erin Smith Chieze discovered what breast cancer looks like as well as feels like after she saw "Know Your Lemons" picture. Chieze was diagnosed with stage-four metastatic breast cancer in January 2016.“In December of 2015 when I saw an indentation that looked like one of those pictures, I instantly knew I had breast cancer,” she wrote.
‘While a lump is the most common sign of breast cancer, some symptoms can be seen rather than felt but a mammogram can detect a lump long before it can be felt.’
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The picture, created by Corrine Ellsworth Beaumont of the Worldwide Breast Cancer group, helped her to go for a diagnosis of breast cancer.“I knew all about self-exams, but a picture of what to look for keyed me into knowing I had a terminal disease. Without having seen a picture randomly with real information, I wouldn't have known what to look for.”“I tried to feel for a tumour, but my tumour was non-palpable. I was diagnosed with breast cancer five days later and with stage-4 the following month. A heart did nothing for awareness. I knew what breast cancer was.”
Dr Dasha Fielder of Sapphire Family Medical Practice in Bondi Junction says that while it’s still important to get regular breast exams by a medical professional, this test does raise awareness about the many forms breast cancer can come in.
“Lemons shown on the picture do resemble some of the changes seen, and I think this is a good reminder for women to check their breasts and pick up a change,” she says.
“By no means does that picture replace an appointment with a doctor, however, and equally should not be used as a diagnostic tool.”
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“The message should be that all women must check their breasts every three months and if they notice a change not to wait but to make an appointment with their family doctor for breast examination.”
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Source-Medindia