The Women’s Outreach Center provided a seminar on breast health Wednesday led by survivors of breast cancer.

Molly Fritch and Sarah McLean led Wednesday's discussion. Both survived breast cancer and helped found the SHOUT organization, which was created in 2006 to help young breast cancer survivors unite in fellowship. SHOUT is an acronym that stands for strength, healing, optimism, understanding, together. The organization started out with Fritch and McLean, and has grown to more than nine women state-wide. The organization also has partnered with the OU department of research to do a study about survivorship.

Fritch and McLean were both very young when they were diagnosed with breast cancer. Fritch was 31 and McLean was 26. Both had their breasts removed and had to undergo re-constructive surgery.

McLean said she had a very hard time dealing with the emotional side of the situation once the operations were over, so she turned to a therapist who was also a breast cancer survivor.

"Being able to talk to someone that could validate and truly comprehend everything that I was going through was so helpful," she said.

During her healing process she realized the need for psychosocial support after the procedures, so she developed what she calls Project 31. According to McLean’s web site, its goal is to connect breast cancer survivors and their families with the tools necessary for emotional healing and returning to normal life after battling cancer.

McLean's husband, Steve, was also present at the panel.

"It's very hard to connect [with the survivor] emotionally after you're done with the process," he said. "We want to help educate spouses, children, family, and loved ones so that they can communicate with the survivor."

SHOUT also has resources that include education and support groups for breast cancer patients and survivors. One of their goals is to inform young women that if breast cancer is caught early enough it has a 100% survival rate. They also want young men to be aware that they can and do get breast cancer.

Both McLean and Fritch strongly encouraged women to complete three tests on a regular basis; breast self examinations, pap tests and mammograms.

They said a self breast examination is something that every female should begin to do once breasts develop. This test should be administered at least one time a month, and is most accurate when taken the week after the menstrual cycle. The test consists mainly of checking the breasts for any lumps or abnormalities in the area that a basic bra covers, as well as below the collarbone and underneath the arms.

They said women should apply three different pressures to observe the top middle and base of the breast. If a lump is found then it should be recorded, during the next examination if it has grown in size or hardened in any way then a physician should be notified. But, if a lump is found that is stone -hard then it should be reported immediately.

The second test they encourage is a pap test. A pap test, also know as a pap smear, is conducted to test for cervical cancer. The actual procedure consists of staining the cervical cells taken in a cervical or vaginal smear for examination of ex foliated cells. The results of a pap test monitor any changes in the cervix before they turn into cancer. This test is commonly done every 1 to 3 years.

McLean and Fritch also recommend women have a mammogram performed. A mammogram consists of x-rays of the breasts’ soft tissues in search of tumors and any other abnormalities. The results can reveal early or already developed stages of breast cancer. Most women have a mammogram performed every 1 to 2 years.

For more information about breast cancer and self testing visit www.shout-okc.org or www.project3one.org.