Health Tools
Hygiene
Naturopathy
Mental health
More Articles
Performing Breast Self-Exams
Areas to Examine with Particular Care
It is important to thoroughly examine the entire area of the breast every month:
- Outside: armpit to collar bone, and below the breast
- Middle: the breast itself
- Inside: the nipple area
What are the warning signs of Breast cancer?
- Lump or thickening (breast, underarm)
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin.
- Bloody or spontaneous discharge from nipple.
- A sore on the breast that does not heal.
- Unusual pain Itch or rash, especially in nipple area.
- Retracted nipple(s).
Breast Cancer Symptoms
Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. In fact, when
breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms of breast
cancer at all. However, if the cancer spreads, it may result in changes that women should look out for:
- a bulge or thickening in the underarm region or next to the breast;
- a change in the breast's size or form;
- discharge from the nipple, discomfort in the nipple, or the nipple pulling back (inverted) into the breast;
- breast ridges or pitting (the skin has an orange-like appearance); or
- a change in the appearance or sensation of the breast, areola, or nipple's skin (such as warmth, swelling, redness, or scaliness).
If a woman experiences any of these symptoms, she should visit her doctor.. Most often, they are not cancer, but it's important to check with the doctor so that any problems can be diagnosed and treated as early as possible.
The American Cancer Society lists the following symptoms associated with breast cancer:
- Presence of a lump or thickening in the breast;
- Swelling, dimpling, redness, or soreness of skin;
- Change in shape or appearance of the nipple; and
- Nipple discharge
A physician should be consulted if they persist. It is important to note, however, that these symptoms may be caused by factors unrelated to cancer. Most breast cancers are detected on mammograms before any symptoms appear.
Detecting Breast Cancer
When it comes to risk factors that could raise a woman's risk of breast cancer
she should speak with her doctor. Women of any age who are more likely to have this illness should speak
with their doctor about when to begin and how frequently to havebreast cancer screenings.
It has been demonstrated that breast cancer screening lowers the chance ofbreast cancerdeath.
Women can take an active part in the early detection of breast cancer
by having regularly scheduled screening mammograms and clinical breast exams (breast exams performed
by health professionals). Some women also perform breast self-exams.
A screening mammogram is the best tool available for finding breast cancer
early, before breast cancer symptoms appear.A particular sort of x-ray
is a mammography. Women who show no symptoms of breast cancer have screening mammography to look for
breast alternation.
Breast lumps are frequently found by mammograms before they are felt. A mammography might also reveal minute calcium
deposits in the breast. Although most calcium deposits are benign, a cluster of very
tiny specks of calcium (called microcalcifications) may be an early sign of cancer.
The screening mammography may need to be followed up with additional (diagnostic) mammograms if
a suspicious-looking region of the breast is detected. The doctor might suggest the woman get
a biopsy based on the findings.
Previous
Top
