They say we only have one health to take care of, and it’s no wonder we wish for just that when we’re sick: To be healthy. But once we feel better, we slip back into our routines, and the usual worries and desires start to take control of our needs and th
The truth is, we actually have a lot of control over our health. Through prevention, paying attention to signals, and mindful self-care. I genuinely focus on prevention – I visit the dentist twice a year, get a preventive checkup once every two years, go to the gynecologist twice a year, and I even add cardiology and endocrinology as a bonus.
Thanks to prevention, I found a lump in my breast. I do regular self-exams every month and discovered it at 27. At first, I panic, thinking I’m dying, I have a tumor, that dreaded "C" word (like Voldemort in Harry Potter).
I calm myself by remembering that I am young and healthy, and the lump could just be a lymph node, a cyst, or a fat lump. Generally, I should overthink less and not jump to conclusions before reality hits me in the face. So until I have results, I consider myself healthy. Innocent until proven guilty, right?
Step One: Booking the Appointment
For over four years, I worked at the nonprofit Loono, which focuses (among other things) on breast cancer prevention, so I knew exactly what to do. I contacted my gynecologist (she’s absolutely amazing!), and asked her to issue a referral for an ultrasound, which is appropriate for my age. She refused to do it remotely. My GP wasn’t picking up the phone, so I decided to pay for the ultrasound myself. The cost is around 1,200 CZK, which means if you set aside 50 CZK monthly, not even the price of a coffee, you'd have saved up by the time the biannual checkup is due.
Eventually, I tried calling two clinics without success. It took two days before one called me back and I got an appointment a week later. Women under 45 are recommended to have a breast ultrasound once every two years, or immediately if there’s a problem or finding, with a referral from a GP or gynecologist.
Preventive mammograms are covered by health insurance in the Czech Republic for women aged 45 and over, every two years. As you age, breast tissue changes, and the examination becomes more accurate. During the process, your breasts are briefly compressed between two plates, which can be uncomfortable but only takes a few minutes.
Step Two: Hang in There
A one-week wait for an exam is actually pretty bearable – many other tests take much longer. Still, I check myself every day and keeping a clear mind is tricky. No other prep needed for the test.
Step Three: The Paperwork
At the clinic, I hand over my insurance card, pay the exam fee, and get papers to fill out, specifically a risk factor questionnaire. I fill out whether I’ve done the exam before, if I’m on hormone treatment, if there’s a family indication, and if I’ve noticed any suspicious changes.
Step Four: The Examination
Right after filling out the forms, the doctor calls me in. I hand over the questionnaire and, behind a curtain, undress the top half of my body. The exam is done lying on my back with arms raised above my head. First, the breasts are examined manually. Then, it’s time for the main part – the ultrasound. Gel is applied, which feels cold for a second, but you soon forget it. The doctor then slowly scans with the probe over the breasts, armpits, and surrounding areas, watching the screen.
We chat about everything and nothing, and before I know it, it’s done. The exam really only takes a few minutes, about five in my case, it’s painless and non-invasive. The doctor then tells me the results. Bilateral fibroadenoma (benign tumor). I feel immense relief and think... I have really small breasts, which makes self-examination easier. I found the lump only in one breast, so I’m thankful for the ultrasound.
Step Five, Six, and Onwards, it Never Ends
A fibroadenoma isn’t cancer and is usually not treated. I’ll continue monthly self-exams and, if I notice enlargement or any unusual changes, I’ll see the doctor. Surgery is rare, considered only for fast-growing or unclear lumps (if the lump interferes, causes pain). The chance of it turning malignant is almost zero. Yay.
A whole 30% of breast or testicular cancers are discovered by a partner.
Fibroadenomas are often associated with hormonal changes and occur in otherwise healthy women. There’s no surefire prevention to completely avoid them. They aren’t limiting; I just need to pay more attention to my body.
The only warning sign for me was the lump I felt during self-exam. A lump is often the first and only symptom in early-stage breast cancer. Again, because repetition is key. If I hadn’t been examining my breasts, I probably wouldn’t have known anything was there.
This is Your Sign to Self-Exam Your Breasts
Self-examinations are done once a month, ideally between the fifth and tenth day after the start of your period when breasts are easiest to check and least painful. And my fave stat – remember to check your partner too. A whole 30% of cancers are discovered by them.
1. Look at your breasts in the mirror. Observe any changes since your last self-exam, like size, shape of the breast or nipple, discharge, or skin changes.
2. Use three flat fingers and circular motions to feel all over the breasts, from the collarbone, through the armpits, and down to the bra line. Notice any surface or internal irregularities. Use the opposite hand, meaning left hand for the right breast and right hand for the left.
3. All good? Great, see you in a month. Something doesn’t seem right? Stay cool, avoid Googling, and reach out to your gynecologist or GP.
👉 Check out the video tutorial How to Do a Proper Breast Self-Exam?
Source: Loono
What Do I Take Away from This?
Only 60% of women go for preventive mammograms. Breast cancer claims 1,700 women’s lives annually in the Czech Republic, yet 30% of these deaths could be avoided with early detection. We're not immortal. It’s not just about breasts but listening to our bodies in general. We don’t have time to visit doctors and live believing we’re healthy until diagnosed, even if our body screams otherwise.
Health is everything. Ours and our loved ones’. Because what else do we wish for when we're sick?
I had my exam at the Mamodiagnosis Center Waltrovka in Prague, with Professor Daneš. Big thanks to him for the kind, sensitive, and professional approach.
