What is the DRY & DETECT TOWEL initiative 

The Dry & Detect Towel Initiative is a breast cancer awareness campaign that aims to keep breast self-exams top of mind when your top is off. Breast self-exams are free, easy to do, and have a high success rate in detecting breast cancer early if performed monthly.

PEP donated 400 000 pink towels containing educational tags to help remind busy women to perform regular breast self-exams. Each towel contains a QR code directing women to this website where the steps on how to do breast self-exams are freely available.

The initiative partnered with breast cancer survivors and infl uencers to spark an online conversation with our campaign hashtag #DryAndDetectSelfExam, challenging the public to do their breast self-exams, post a selfi e wearing a towel, and nominate a friend to join the movement.

What is breast cancer 

Breast cancer is a kind of cancer that begins as a growth of cells in the breast tissue. Apart from non-melanoma skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer in women of all races, with a lifetime risk of 1 in 26 in South Africa, according to the 2022 National Cancer Registry (NCR).

Breast cancer survival rates have been increasing. And the number of people dying of breast cancer is steadily going down. Much of this is due to the widespread support for breast cancer awareness and funding for research.

Risks, signs, and symptoms of breast cancer 

KNOW THE RISKS:

• Alcohol and tobacco use increases the risk of breast cancer
• Being overweight & having low levels of physical activity adds to breast cancer risk, especially after menopause
• Family history increases the risk
• Women over 40 should go for annual mammograms
• Women over 55 can have a mammogram every 2 years
• Women who have other risk factors such as a mutated BRCA 1 or 2 gene should be referred for annual mammograms
• Do monthly breast self-examinations and go for regular screening at your local health facility

SIGNS:

• A puckering of the skin of the breast
• A lump in the breast or armpit
• A change in the skin around the nipple or nipple discharge
• Dimpling of the nipple or nipple retraction
• An unusual increase in the size of one breast
• One breast unusually lower than the other. Nipples at different levels
• An enlargement of the glands
• An unusual swelling in the armpit

How to do a breast self-exam

How to get help 

If you find any lumps or other symptoms, contact your primary health practitioner or please get in touch with our contact your primary health practitioner or please get in touch with the nearest CANSA Care Centre (https://cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details/) to arrange for a Clinical Breast Examination.

If you have been diagnosed with breast cancer, please contact your local CANSA Care Centre https://cansa.org.za/cansa-care-centres-contact-details/ so that CANSA staff can offer you and your loved ones care & support, including breast prostheses / bras, lymphoedema garments, medical equipment hire, wigs and headwear, counselling, support groups, online support groups and resources, as well as CANSA Care Homes where patients receiving treatment far from home can stay during treatment.

MBC online – please submit the online form here: https://cansa.org.za/cansas-care-support/support-groups/ to request to be added to the MBC WhatsApp support group, or email Gretchen Minnaar gminnaar@cansa.org.za

Join the conversation 

@monicalotter

@marciawilliams

@sam_vanwyn

@candashian_cpt

@tara_courtene_c