Self Cervical Exam

Surviving cancer: Ray of Hope

Beginning at 10:30 a.m., booths opened for skin cancer screenings and blood pressure tests, along with tables of information about different types of cancer. One hands-on display allowed people to feel for realistic bumps in artificial breast models so women can be aware of what they are searching for in their self-exams. An interesting fact about breast cancer is that for every 10 women that have breast cancer, seven men get it, and one of those seven die from the disease. Tim McGlew, CEO of Kern Valley Healthcare District (KVHD), which also co-hosted the luncheon, said he was proud to have his organization involved in the event because he “Can’t underscore how important it is for our community to learn about cancer and its prevention.” The lunch, which cost only $5 per person, was catered by Beyond Juice in Lake Isabella, and served as a lesson in cancer prevention itself, featuring grilled chicken, asparagus, salad, and whole wheat bread. While it was being served to the guests by volunteers from the ECHO Academy and the Kern Valley Rotary, the first keynote speaker, Sean Kenney of Mercy and Memorial Hospitals, gave a presentation about the importance of exercise in preventing, treating, and reducing the rate of recurrence of cancer. Kinney explained that there are two main components to a physical fitness routine. The first is cardiovascular movement, which is most important and can be any activity that gets the heart pumping such as walking, biking, swimming, running, etc. Cardio should be done at least 20 minutes three or more times per week to reap the full benefits. The other component of a physical fitness program is strength or resistance training, which includes weight lifting or use of resistance bands to work the muscles. He said that even if you cannot afford weights or a gym membership, you can use anything from a can of soup to refilled milk jugs as weights. Resistance training should be done every other day, doing two sets of twelve repetitions with a weight that’s challenging. Kenney also demonstrated chair squats and wall push-ups; two easy exercises that can be done anywhere using only one’s body weight. He said that if you are diagnosed with cancer, it is important to speak with your doctor before beginning an exercise regimen, though, because different cancers affect the bones and muscles differently. “There is no one-size-fits-all approach,” said Kenney.

MIRROR, MIRROR . . .BETWEEN MY THIGHS « TheFabV Blog

A vaginal self exam is important to proper keeping your kitty purring. Done regularly, this exam will help you be proactive in your vagina health. The best time to do an exam is between menstrual periods and it should, by no means, replace you regular exams by a doctor.

What the self exam does it help you learn what you own vagina looks like, allowing you to immediately spot any abnormalities or growths. During the exam you are checking for sores, discoloration, and abnormal looking or smelling discharge.

Ok so you’re ready to explore. Make sure to wash your hands. Then undress from the waist down, and grab a flashlight and a handheld mirror with a handle. Find a comfortable place, such as a bed, sofa or even the floor. Support your back with pillows so you are sitting at almost upright, but slightly back, with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor.

Prop the flashlight on the floor, between your feet and facing your open vagina. Holding the mirror at an angle, between your thighs, position it so you can easily see your genital area. With the other hand, examine the outer and inner lips. These are your labia major and labia minor, respectively. Gently pull the hood back, covering your clitoris. Spread your inner lips to expose your urethra. This is a small hole just under the clitoris and is the hole that expels urine. And finally, examine the hole beneath it, the hole that is the opening to you vagina.

Look closely at the skin and make a mental note of any spots, bumps, or abnormalities. You may have to move your pubic hair around to get a close inspection. Your vaginal hole should be a pinkish red color. There may be some discharge oozing out. Examine it by touching and smelling it. Notice the color. Normal discharge is typically clear to cloudy white with sometimes an egg white texture to it, right around ovulation time.

If you want, you can insert your middle finger in the hold and find your cervix. It feels like a finger pointing back at you with a tiny hold in the middle. Feel around for any bumps or soreness.

Signs to look for are:

Thick cottage cheese-like discharge. Yellow or green discharge. A fishy, pungent or yeasty smell. Open sores. Raised freckles. Cauliflower-like bumps. Hard or soft lumps beneath the skin. Extreme discoloration of the skin. Bumps on the cervix or anywhere inside the vaginal wall.

When you are done. Make note of what you found. Examine yourself once a month and refer back to your notes for any changes. And don’t forget your annual check up at the gynecologist for testing such as the pap smear, which can detect STD’s as well as life threatening illnesses.

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