When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, it was through a breast self-exam; that’s how I found my lump. It didn’t show up on a mammogram–and if I hadn’t been vigilant, it may have been too late. That’s why I believe early detection is key; to me, it’s just common sense.

But doing a breast self-exam isn’t always easy; it can be hard to know what you’re looking for. A product called Liv Aid® makes it simpler, by acting as a sort of magnifying glass for your fingers, making it a lot easier to notice changes. This heart-shaped silicone device is filled with a non-toxic lubricant that reduces the friction between a woman’s fingers and her breast, so it easier to find changes.

To encourage more women to self-examine their breasts, this October I’m working with Curves to give away 1 million Liv Aid® breast self-examination aids to women. Breast self-examination is an important step a woman can do herself as part of a regular breast health routine. This is an ideal combination of efforts since Curves encourages women to exercise and we know that obesity is one of the links to breast cancer. To find out more, go to Liv.com or Curves.com. To coincide with the Liv Aid® campaign in October, the Liv.com site will be launched as a one-stop source for information, news and education about breast health and early detection, too.

Olivia Newton John’s newest CD Olivia Newton-John & Friends: A Celebration In Song debuted in September and proceeds from the album sales will benefit the Olivia Newton-John Cancer and Wellness Centre. For more on her efforts to raise funds for the Olivia Newton John Cancer & Wellness Centre, which will feature a full range of complementary therapies, visit www.GreatWalkToBeijing.com.

For more breast cancer articles, go to Intent.com. Intent is a new site providing content and a community for who you aspire to be–personally, socially and globally.