Let’s talk about breasts!
By Marcos Otero
The Breast. Everyone is scared of the diagnosis of breasts cancer. Survival has improved in part because of the the effects of early diagnosis. Breasts screening and mammograms have increased the number of breast cancers found even before there are symptoms. Mammograms do NOT FIND EVERY BREAST CANCER.
This month let’s talk about the signs and symptoms and the breast exam. The most common symptom is a new lump or mass. Most breast cancer lumps are painless, hard, and has irregular borders, but some can be tender, soft, and round and hurt. For these reasons ALL new breast mass, lumps, or changes should be checked.
Other symptoms include: swelling of all or part of a breast, skin irritation or dimpling, breast pain or nipple pain, nipple retraction, redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin, and nipple discharge.
Breast cancer can spread to the lymph glands under the arm or around the clavicle and cause swelling in t those areas. All these symptoms can also be found with benign findings as well. So if you have these get examined by your doctor.
The Five Steps of a Breast Exam.
Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here’s what you should look for:
Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:
Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.
Breast self exam should be part of your monthly health care routine, and you should visit your doctor if you experience breast changes. If you’re over 40 or at a high risk for the disease, you should also have an annual mammogram and physical exam by a doctor.
The earlier breast cancer is found and diagnosed, the better your chances of beating it. Always remember that if you are in doubt or unsure see your medical provider.
