Frequently Asked Questions
How Can Women Exercise Good Breast Health?
Most women who think of screening for breast cancer think of mammograms. But there are actually three ways to screen for breast cancer that, when combined, offer the best opportunity to detect the disease at its earliest, most treatable stage. These are:
- Mammography
- Clinical breast exam by a healthcare professional
- Breast self-exam (BSE)
How Important is Breast Self-Exam? (BSE)
Breast cancer is by far the most common cancer among women worldwide, which is why BSE is so important. BSE unquestionably catches a significant number—15 to 20 percent—of breast cancers that otherwise might have gone undetected for possibly up to a year between doctor visits. About 80 percent of breast cancers not discovered by mammography are found by women themselves. Through BSE, women become familiar with their breasts, learn what is “normal” for them, and are in the best position to detect subtle changes in their breast tissue.
How Important is Early Detection?
Without a doubt, early detection is the key to having many more treatment options at your disposal—and it gives you a better chance for an excellent outcome. More than 95 percent of women whose breast cancer is caught in its earliest stages will be healthy and disease-free five years after their diagnosis and treatment.
Why Don’t More Women do BSE?
There are many reasons that women don’t perform BSE. These include modesty, not knowing how to do it correctly, and being frightened to find a lump. Women are more afraid of getting breast cancer than any other disease, but knowing that—a) early detection can save lives and b) over 80% of lumps found are not cancerous—may help manage fear. To help with some of the other challenges, there’s the Liv Aid!
What is the Liv® Aid?
The Liv Aid is a soft, fluid-filled pad that enhances a woman’s sense of touch and makes the BSE process simpler and much more sensitive for detecting new or unusual lumps. It provides a modest barrier between the breast tissue and fingers, while at the same time acting as a magnifying glass for the fingers. It does this by reducing the friction between the fingers and the breast tissue, allowing the fingers to glide smoothly over the breast area via the liquid inside.
Why is it Called Liv® Aid?
Australian singer and 4-time Grammy winner Olivia Newton-John, a breast cancer survivor, is the inspiration behind the Liv Aid. The design reflects the heart-shaped dot in the “i” in her signature, and she chose the colors—purple (also Curves’ signature color) and hot pink. Olivia found a lump through BSE sixteen years ago, and she credits the fact that through early self-detection, she quite possibly saved her own life. Her dream is that every woman in the world will get a Liv Aid and begin performing regular BSE between annual mammograms and doctor check-ups.
Consequently, new Liv Aid was developed with the goal to keep cost-of-goods to a minimum to allow Curves to distribute
it to a million women as a promotional item. Aren’t There Similar Products to Liv® Aid on the Market? There are other BSE pads, but none are of as exceptional quality as the Liv Aid. Made of soft, flexible components, the Liv Aid has no sharp or rough edges. It’s designed to make BSE more comfortable and convenient.
Where Can I Get a Liv® Aid?
The Curves-branded Liv Aid and promotional offer are available exclusively through participating Curves locations. Every woman has a chance to get a FREE Liv Aid during Breast Cancer Awareness Month—October 2008—at participating Curves locations. (Curves – The Eglinton Way sells it at cost $9.99)
Why is Curves Partnering with Liv® Aid?
Curves has helped millions of women around the world lose millions of pounds and move away from all types of disease. Curves has also been a long-committed partner in the fight against cancer, raising millions of dollars annually for research, treatment, and recovery programs.
An avalanche of recent research links obesity and excess weight with an increased risk for many types of cancers—including breast cancer. When you understand that only five to ten percent of breast cancers are hereditary and one-third of all breast cancer can be related to lack of exercise and poor diet, you’ll see that we have much more control over our cancer risk than previously thought. This means we have to take responsibility for our own health.
By managing weight, eating a diet low in fat and high in fruits and vegetables, and exercising regularly—at least 30 minutes three times a week—we can significantly reduce cancer risk.
Curves is committed to strengthening women through creating awareness of the risks of obesity, providing health education, and helping women exercise good breast health by distributing one million Liv Aids in 2008.
As the world’s leading women’s fitness center with more than 4 million members, Curves has the ability to show women how the Liv Aid works through the amazing “sugar demonstration.” Once you’ve experienced the demonstration, it’s easy to see how the Liv Aid can help with early detection.
Thanks to Ernie Bodai, M.D., F.A.C.S. and his book, “I Flunked My Mammogram”—What Every Woman Needs to Know About Breast Cancer for the information in this document relating to cancer. Dr. Bodai is the Director of Breast Surgical Services for America’s leading integrated health plan, an author, speaker, cancer survivor and founder of the Breast Cancer Research Postage Stamp.
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