“My initial impression of the 12 signs of breast cancer image was that everything was simple. Simple and understandable. My patients need it.”

Natalya Alekseeva is our wonderful volunteer educator from Nizhegorodskaya, Russia. She is an oncologist who loves to show our materials to her patients because it is better to show them what to look out for rather than telling them. Natalya says that it is so necessary for this information to be translated into more languages so that it can educate more people.

“I was impressed from day 1 with the KYL materials. They are super clear, and make an often difficult topic as approachable and dare I say fun, as it could be.”

Karin Del Maestro, a breast cancer thriver from the United States has been a Know Your Lemons educator for a little over 2 years. She first discovered the Know Your Lemons foundation from Google! It was after her breast cancer diagnosis and double mastectomy that she started asking the questions, “should I still be getting checked? And, what kind of exams or screenings should I be doing now?” Even without breasts Karin still does a monthly exam and encourages everyone in the cancer community who has gone through a double mastectomy to continue doing their chest exams! This is because while doing one of her monthly chest exams after her surgery, she discovered 3 lumps that needed further testing. Our app has recently become more inclusive of the “chest” population through the addition of Napoleon Bonaparte as a chest self exam audio guide coach. If you or a loved one has a chest, encourage them to download the app for reminders to do a monthly chest exam.

“I believe all schools, waiting rooms in hospitals and doctor practices, fitting rooms in shops, and changing rooms in sports clubs should display KYL materials to raise more awareness.”

Sophie De Cock was born in Belgium and moved to Italy to become the owner of a beauty cosmetics distributor called Sophisticlin. When asked how she first came across the Know Your Lemons Foundation she said,

“For me, prevention is key…representing breasts as lemons [is] a smart move and [is an] easy [way] to reach [people].”

Tito Alvarado is a medical doctor from Ecuador, South America, currently residing in Turkey. It was a lifelong dream of his to become a doctor and he started studying to become one since high school. “10 years ago when I was in high school I decided to make my research paper for the International Baccalaureate about breast cancer, and while researching I found out about KYL,” said Tito, when he was asked about his first interaction with Know Your Lemons.

“I want people to be educated so they get diagnosed earlier and don't have to go through what I went through then and now.”

Gem Bonnett from Barbados found the Know Your Lemons Foundation about a year after she was diagnosed when she was looking for images on Google to share for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. She was looking for an image or set of images that caught the eye and had enough info to actually share something meaningful. After searching for a while she found a medical clinic that had shared the 12 symptoms of breast cancer carton of lemons.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month – and while its purpose in raising awareness of the disease is important, education and early detection is what saves lives. That’s where the Know Your Lemons Foundation steps in; they are the only foundation doing innovative and equitable breast cancer awareness work in global breast health education and have an award-winning app designed to empower people to take charge of their health.

“Pinkwashing” is a term used to describe profits or services that turn pink as part of their sales promotions but contribute little or nothing to the cause through charitable giving and don’t participate in customer and employee education. As a charity dedicated to early detection for breast cancer we help companies contribute meaningful impact for breast cancer awareness.