October is known as Breast Cancer Awareness Month, in most countries.
It is the time when both younger and older women and men, take time out to remember those dear to us who have suffered and are suffering from this disease and those who have overcome it.
It is also the time when we continue to educate ourselves and each other re how best to prevent this disease.
As such, we will discuss how to do a breast self-examination.
Definition: Breast cancers are potentially life threatening malignancies (abnormal cell formations) that can occur in each breast.
70% of breast cancers are discovered via breast self-examination.
A breast self-examination (self-exam) is simple to do and should be done once every month, preferably on the same date, so that you will easily remember when to do it. (For women, it should be done a few days after the ending of your period).
Additionally, you need to watch your breasts for any changes in their appearance throughout each month.
Ok, Let's Get to the Breast Self -Exam
This is done by standing in front of a mirror that allows you to see from your head to your waist.
1) With your hands by your side, examine each breast.
Do you notice any change in the size, shape or colour of each breast?
Do you notice any difference between the two? (In 98% of cases one will be lower than the other - so this is fine). E.g. do you notice any dimpling, puckering, soreness, redness of the breasts? Do you notice any inversion (sinking in) of the nipple? These could be signs of breast cancer.
Please click this link for illustrations of these symptoms.
2) Then lift your hands way above your head, clasp them together, lightly, and check for these signs in this new posture.
3) Then, while still looking at your mirror, lower your hands and gently squeeze the nipple of each breast and check for a clear or milky or white discharge, or blood. These could be signs of a problem,so you should see your doctor immediately.
(The exception here is that if you're nursing, then the white discharge would be milk and is ok).
4) Next, lie flat down on your bed. You will be checking for lumps or any knots in the breast.
Use lotion to smooth the friction of your hands moving over your breast during this section of the self-exam.
5) Then place a pillow under your left shoulder.
Examine the left breast, by placing your left arm behind your head. Then with the first four fingers of your right hand, start from your nipple and gentle massage around it in a circular fashion until you reach the outer portions of the breast.Alternate among gentle, medium and firm pressure.
6) Continue this motion until you reach the top of the collar bone. (Please ensure that you cover the breast region by your armpits as well,as the breast does extend to this region of the body).
Some people prefer using a vertical motion from the top of the breast (right next to the collar bone) to the bottom(where it sits on the chest) to check for lumps.
Please see this link to see what the vertical motion looks like, here: Breast Self Exam Pics.
The choice is up to you. Please do whatever you're comfortable with.
7) Now do the same for the right breast. (In this case, your right hand will be behind you head, the pillow under your right shoulder, while you use the left hand to examine the right breast).
A breast self-exam, if done regularly, will enable you to know how your breast should feel and thus alert you should any changes occur in the texture, look or feel of the breasts.
If this happens, please report immediately to your doctor, who will advise you of the next steps to take.
Below are some resources that have pictures of how to do breast self-exams. Please visit these sites to see their illustrations.
It was indeed a pleasure presenting this to you. Please let me know how you feel about doing a breast self-exam, by responding to the poll on the right.
Please also let me know if this post was of any benefit to you and why.
Gillian
Source Documents:
1) Article, "The Five Steps of a Breast Self Exam" , Breast Cancer.org,BreastCAncer.org, accessed October 26,2006
2) Article, "Breast Cancer", (Signs of Breast Cancer), via Wikipedia.org, accessed October 26,2006
3) Article, "Breast Cancer Sympoms", via Wikipedia.org, accessed October 26,2006
4) Article, "Breast Cancer Symptoms and Information on Breast Cancer", National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc., accessed October 26,2006
