We all know that we should be checking our ‘lemons’ for signs of breast cancer – but what are the symptoms?

Although lumps are the most common indicator of breast cancer, other symptoms can manifest, such as indentations, skin sores, dimpling, bumps, redness, and heat.

Designer Corrine Ellsworth Beaumount created this image of lemons to illustrate the visual signs of breast cancer. Corrine is the founder of the Worldwide Breast Cancer charity, and the #KnowYourLemons campaign.

The picture of lemons in a carton went viral in December after been shared by Erin Smith Chieze, and has been seen by over 7 million people.

Erin was feeling frustrated that people were sharing red hearts on their Facebook statuses to raise awareness for breast cancer, and instead wanted to truly raise awareness by highlighting that lumps aren’t the only symptom.

She said; “Someone once posted a picture on Facebook of what breast cancer can look like. Not feel, but look like. In December of 2015 when I saw an indentation that looked like one of those pictures, I instantly knew I had breast cancer. I tried to feel for a tumor, but my tumor was non palpable.

Credit: Worldwide Breast Cancer

“I was diagnosed with breast cancer 5 days later and with stage 4 the following month. A heart did nothing for awareness. I knew what breast cancer was.

“I knew all about self exams, but a picture of what to look for keyed me into knowing I had a terminal disease.

“We need to give REAL information, not cute hearts. Without having seen a picture randomly with real information, I wouldn’t have known what to look for. Do us a favor, stop playing games with my life and start truly helping people. Metastatic breast cancer treatment research and real awareness.

Credit: Worldwide Breast Cancer

“PLEASE, stop playing games that do not actually promote awareness, they often cause people to tune out anything that might even mention the word awareness.

“So if you truly want to help people WITH cancer, or those who will GET cancer, share photos like this one. I wish I remembered who posted the original picture I saw, it truly did make a difference for me.

Women are advised to check their breasts at least once a month, and although the condition usually affects women aged 50 and over, younger women are also advised to make sure everything is okay with their lemons.

BreastCheck offers women between the ages of 50 to 69 free mammograms, but if you’re not within that age bracket you should still keep an eye that everything is normal. If you find anything unusual, don’t hesitate to contact your GP.

 

For more information you can check out the World Wide Breast Cancer website, log on Breast Cancer Ireland, or Breast Check.