Don’t be a bloody sheep by putting a heart on your Facebook status!

I awoke this morning to a few private messages in my Facebook profile inbox.Thinking, “Ooooh aren’t I the popular one!” but nothing could further from the truth and the reason is because I had a barrage of messages saying this:

Beautiful Lady…Without replying to this message, put a heart on your wall; no comment, just a heart. Next, post a heart on the wall of the person who sent you this message. Then send this message to your women friends, only . If anyone asks you why you have so many hearts on your wall, don’t tell them. This is only for women, because this is breast cancer research week. One small act of solidarity between women. PS to type a heart, first type < then 3. It will turn into a heart as soon as you post it.

Now I have seen a few statuses with hearts but thought nothing of it, I mean why would you? So just like when us ladies were asked to put our bra size and colour, a piece of fruit, where we keep our hand bag, etc etc as our status this is next campaign in breast cancer awareness.

Huh?????

Um, ok? Am I missing something?

How does putting a heart on your Facebook status show solidarity amongst women and spread the awareness of breast cancer? And by the way men get breast cancer too, surely they should be invited to put little heart on their statuses too?

I’m sure when my Auntie Pauline and family friend Monica were told that they had breast cancer, the doctor didn’t say,

“Don’t tell your family and friends that you have breast cancer just put a heart on your head.It’ll be fun!”

Breast cancer isn’t fun.

I’m sure my Auntie Pauline and friend Monica weren’t laughing when they died.

So don’t be a bloody sheep by putting a  heart your Facebook status, you can spread breast cancer awareness on your Facebook status by writing something like this:

This week is breast cancer  awareness week leading up to breast cancer awareness month.

So now I’m going to give you some life saving information CHECK YOUR BREASTS!!!

The following info I found on The Breast Cancer Press Pack PDF .

There’s no right or wrong way to check your breasts. Try to get used to looking at and feeling your breasts regularly. Remember to check all parts of your breasts, your armpits and up to your collarbone.

Look and feel  for changes

Nobody knows your body like you do, so you’re the best person to notice any unusual changes.

•   Changes in size or shape.
•  Changes in skin texture such as puckering or dimpling.
•  Inverted nipple.
•  A lump or thickening of breast tissue.
•  Redness or a rash on the skin/ around the nipple.
•  Discharge from one or both nipples.
•  Constant pain in breast or armpit.
•  Swelling in armpit/around collarbone.

The five-point code

Whatever your age, size or shape it’s important to take care of your breasts. And remember, although it’s rare, men can also get breast cancer so they need to be breast aware too.
Being breast aware is easy- just follow these five simple steps.

1. Know what is normal for you.

2. Know what to look and feel for.

3. Look and feel.

4. Tell your GP about any changes straightaway.

5. Go for breast screening when invited.

If you have a breast cancer or breast health query visit
www.breastcancercare.org.uk or call the free, confidential
Breast Cancer Care Helpline on 0808 800 6000.
Department of Heath 2009

Source: Breast cancer care press pack

The facts

The number of people being diagnosed with breast cancer is increasing, but the good news is survival rates are improving. This is probably because of more targeted treatments, earlier detection and better breast awareness.
The biggest risk factor, after gender, is increasing age – 80% of breast cancers occur in women over the age of 50.
Breast cancer also affects men, but it’s rare – around 300 men are diagnosed each year.
Breast cancer is not one single disease there are several types of breast cancer.
Not all breast cancers show as a lump, and not all breast lumps are breast cancer.
Less than 10% of breast cancer runs in families, so having someone in your family with breast cancer doesn’t necessarily mean your own risk is increased.

The stats

Around 50,000 new cases of invasive and non-invasive (DCIS)* breast cancer are diagnosed each year in the UK. This October around 4,000 people will receive the devastating news they have breast cancer.
Nearly 12,000 people die from breast cancer in the UK every year.**
Breast cancer is the second biggest cause of death from cancer for women in the UK, after lung cancer.
There are an estimated 550,000 people living in the UK today who have had a diagnosis of breast cancer.**
In women under the age of 35, breast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer.

Source: Breast cancer care

If  you are a blogger please write a post to  give your readers this potentially life-saving information.And remember why putting a heart on your Facebook status doesn’t spread breast cancer awareness, it just means your a sheep.

Feel free to share my post on your Facebook profiles and pages, Twitter, Stumbleupon, Tumblr, Google Plus, Digg, Reddit, Delicious. and any other social media platform you use.

Other people who think this is bloody stupid:

Heather from Notes from Lapland 

Midlife SingleMum 

Kellie of Big Fashionista 

27. September 2012 by Aly Hodge
Categories: CHARITY | Tags: breast cancer awaress week, facebook status, month | 14 comments