Breast Cancer – The Silent Killer (Part II)

Breast Self-Exams

Regular breast self-exams help women to know their breasts well and notice the slightest change on their breasts. It helps to detect breast cancers that mammograms sometimes miss. Many breast cancer experts agree that self-exams are safer than mammography because it does not exposes women to radiation, a known carcinogen. In some cases, mammography fails to detect around 20 percent of breast cancers in older women and 40 percent in younger women whose breast tissue is more dense. Until scientists develop a safe, foolproof and accessible screening method for breast cancer, self-exams are an irreplaceable element in the early detection tool kit.

3 Steps of Breast Self-Exams

Step 1

Begin by looking at your breast in front of a mirror ,with your arms at your side, with your arms raised behind your head, and with your arms on your hips.

Here is what you should look for:

• One breast unusually lower than the other
• An unusual increase in the size of one breast
• Unusual thickening of your breasts
• Any new lump (which may or may not be painful or tender)
• Sticky or bloody discharge from your nipples
• Any changes in the skin of your nipples or breasts, such as puckering or dimpling

**Important: If you see any of the above changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention.

Step 2

Next, lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder and your left hand behind your head. Your shoulder should be raised enough for your left breast to be center on top of your chest. This will help you to check the breast tissues evenly. Use your right hand with the pads of the 3 middle fingers to feel your left breast. Start at the outer edge and work around your breast in circles, getting closer to your nipple with each circle. Be sure to include the area up to your collarbone and out to your armpit. You have lymph nodes in this area. Cancer can spread to lymph node tissue. Then, do exactly the same for your right breast with the pillow under your right shoulder.

Step 3

After you’ve finished checking your breast, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a milky or yellow fluid or blood).

What is Mammograms?

A mammogram is another way to detect breast cancer early. A mammogram is a special kind of x-ray of your breasts. It is a quick and simple test that usually takes less than 30 minutes. The goal of mammograms is to detect cancerous cell/tissue before they start to cause symptoms. The dose of radiation used in a mammogram is very low, about the same amount as in a dentist's X-ray and there is no evidence that the small amount of radiation used can actually cause cancer. Women aged 40 and above are strongly encouraged to get a mammogram every 1 to 2 years.

To be continued......