This October, during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, women
are encouraged to keep their breast health top of mind with a
fashionable and practical accessory.  The Canadian Cancer
Society's Thingamaboob is designed to raise awareness around
the importance of screening in the early detection of breast
cancer.
The Thingamaboob is made of pink beads that show women the
different lump sizes that can be detected through a variety of
breast-screening methods.
The beads illustrate the following:
The smallest beads represent the average size lump found by
getting regular mammograms.
The third largest bead shows women the average size lump
found by their first mammogram.
The second largest bead shows the average size lump found by
a clinical breast examination done by a health care
professional.
The largest bead shows the average size lump found by women
performing regular breast self-examinations.
The Thingamaboob can be used as an ornamental keychain or purse
charm so that it becomes a daily reminder for women to follow
breast cancer screening guidelines for their age group.
The Canadian Cancer Society has the following
recommendations:
Women 70 or older, talk to their doctor about a screening
program for you.
Women between 50 and 69, have a mammogram every 2 two years.
Women between 40 and 49, discuss with their doctor their
risk of breast cancer, along with the benefits and risks of
mammography.
Women over the age of 40, have a clinical breast examination
by a trained health professional at least every two years.
 Women can also consider doing breast self-examination
to learn what is normal for their breasts and report any
changes they find to their doctor.
Each Canadian Cancer Society Thingamaboob purchased helps fund
vital cancer research and cancer-related support programs.
The Thingamaboob can be purchased for $5 at the Canadian Cancer
Society unit office at 1780 Regent St. For more information,
visit
www.cancer.ca/thingamaboob
, or call 670-1234.
