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Ingenious Poster Uses Lemons to Help You Identify Different Signs of Breast Cancer

By Kelly Richman-Abdou on January 30, 2019

For years, Worldwide Breast Cancer has made it its mission to “radically change the picture of breast cancer.” Emphasizing a need for awareness and accessibility, the non-profit organization has found success with Know Your Lemons—a clever campaign that uses the common fruit to show the signs and symptoms of the disease.

In its most popular poster, the campaign compares a carton of lemons to breasts affected by cancer, with each individual fruit depicting a different tell-tale symptom. In addition to widely known signs like bumps and lumps, these include less obvious changes in size, shape, color, and more. By clearly illustrating what these symptoms look like through the use of images, the poster allows people to “easily understand what they need to know when it comes to breast health, personal risk and getting diagnosed.”

In order to eliminate the possibility of spreading outdated information, Worldwide Breast Cancer regularly revises the poster. The most recent version, for example, is slightly different than the graphic released in 2017. While subtle changes in terminology (e.g. the use of the word “area” instead of “mass”) and slightly more refined graphics may seem minor on the surface, they may make all the difference.

“When breast cancer is found in the earliest stage, the survival rate is nearly 100%,” the organization explains. “But when it's found in the latest stage, there is no surviving it. This is why being able to spot a symptom of breast cancer at the beginning is so important, and why screening (where available) is key to early detection and lives being saved.”

On top of this popular poster, the Know Your Lemons campaign also shares educational infographics on administering self-exams and seeking professional screenings. Additional information is also available in the Know Your Lemons app.

You can learn more on the campaign's website.