The first time you purchased a bra, you likely had one of two thoughts about your breasts: you loved them, or you hated them. Your entire teenage life, your breasts constantly reminded you that you were a woman in training. You wanted them to grow bigger—and probably wished they’d stop growing at some point. Insecurities no doubt got to your head: Why is the left one bigger than the right one? Why aren’t they round like hers? Why are they getting so droopy?
The truth is, no matter how conflicted you are about your breasts, they are part of your identity—which may be why, in part, having breast cancer is one of them most terrifying things to think about. Your breasts can say a lot about your health: they can signal weight gain, fluctuating hormones, and pregnancy.
As for lumps and bumps? You already know that can be a sign of something more sinister: breast cancer. Other than skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in U.S. women, with 1 in 8 women being affected by the disease, according to the American Cancer Society (ACS).