Breast cancer detection is now as easy as digging through your purse for your car keys.
BeadPositive key chains have beads the size of potentially dangerous breast lumps. The colorful wooden beads form a pretty key ring. The four beads represent the sizes of breast lumps, ranging in size from a Lemonhead to a Super Ball, that can be found through check-ups and inspections.
“It’s a great visual,” said Angie Fair, Citrine wellness center coordinator. “These are the actual size.”
The three-dimensional functional-yet-fun item is part the breast health program at Citrine Health, a downtown Everett nonprofit that houses a center that includes wellness programs, social services, health screenings, The Bra Shop and a gift shop.
The key chains are $7 and are sold online and at the gift shop, which also has art, jewelry, scarves, dresses and home decor.
All BeadPositive proceeds support breast health programs at the agency, which connects women to free or low-cost preventative health care services. The Bra Shop specializes in bras and bra forms for women who are post-mastectomy, but also has regular bras.
Early detection saves lives.
“Should you ever have to battle breast cancer you want to catch it early. Treatment options are very different between the size of the lumps,” Fair said.
“Not only do these make great key chains, they are a great reminder to yourself to do self-exams every month and to get your mammogram every year.”
The key chains spark conservation and awareness.
“Other women will say, ‘What is that?’ and you can say, ‘Glad you asked,’ ” Fair said.
“This is why you should be doing screenings because these beads really are actually milled to the sizes of average lumps based on detection methods. The largest is literally the size of breast lump found by accident, meaning you’re not checking. The others represent what you can detect yourself by doing self-exams, mammograms and by comparing a previous mammogram to a current and looking for a change.”
Former Citrine worker Kim Schaaf started making the key chains in 1997 under the name Beads for Life. Citrine later took over the program and made some modifications to the design.
Citrine employees pitch in to make the key chains during breaks or to meet demand.
“It’s relaxing, a great way to de-stress with something fun to do and something meaningful,” Fair said. “We ship orders all over the country and outside of the country as well. We get orders as big as 500. Sometimes its radiology facilities or medical professionals. Sometimes it’s organizations that feel passionate about breast cancer and want to help share that message. Individuals buy them to give as gifts.”
The key chains save lives and time.
“I never lose my keys,” Fair said. “I can dig right down in my ‘mom bag’ and find my keys at any given moment. You never know what you’re going to find. Hot wheels. Walkie-talkies. Some kind of candy. But I can always find my keys.”
Andrea Brown: 425-339-3443; abrown@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @reporterbrown.
BeadPositive
BeadPositive key chains are sold at the gift shop at Citrine Health, 2940 W. Marine View Drive, Everett. Cost is $7 each, with volume discounts available. For more information, call 425-259-9899 or go to www.citrinehealth.org. BeadPositive proceeds support the breast health program at Citrine Health, connecting women to free or low-cost preventative health care services. Underinsured and uninsured women can receive yearly health exams that include cervical screening and mammograms throughout Island, San Juan, Skagit, Snohomish, Pierce and Whatcom Counties. For more about the program, call 425-259-9899 or 888-651-8931.
Kick Cancer’s Butt
The Kick Cancer’s Butt holiday party is 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29 at The Wild Hare in Everett. Kick Cancer’s Butt is put on by the American Cancer Society to benefit Relay For Life. There will be live music, a mini auction and a cocktail hour. Tickets are $15 and can be purchased at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/854808.
Bead size
12mm (0.43 inch): The size lump that can be found by a yearly mammogram
16mm (0.59 inch): The size lump that can be found by first mammogram
24mm (0.81 inch): The size lump that can be found by regular breast self-exams
36mm (1.4 inches): The size lump that can be found by accident
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