Self - Examination Of The Breasts

Three simple steps that save lives

The purpose of the paragraphs that follow is to inform all women on issues concerning the health of their breasts.

The female breast is an organ rich in glandular tissue, and therefore easily influenced by various hormonal changes, especially during the menstrual cycle, menopause, and the period after it. It is true that many women avoid breast screening for fear that they may discover a problem. But it is also true that if breast cancer is detected before forming a tumour, it is then treatable while when the damage is advanced then the prospects for the long-term survival of the woman are not good. Nowadays the capabilities of current imaging methods are such that the presence of breast cancer can be detected in 92% of cases, well ahead - sometimes two or three years in advance – before even a palpable malignant tumour is created. That is why the international scientific community specializing in the subject, recommends annual breast screenings to all women of 40 years of age and above. It is very important for a mammography screening to be performed with the best technical equipment and be skilfully executed.

The following guidelines are intended to provide you with information on breast self examination and the frequency of visit to the specialist.

The reason you should examine your breasts every month: Most cancers are primarily detected by the patients themselves. Early detected and promptly treated breast cancers have excellent chances of being completely treated. This means that by performing this simple self breast examination yourself you can protect your life.

When you should self examine your breast: Once a month, you should examine your breasts at about a week after the beginning of menstruation when your breasts are no longer very sensitive or swollen. After menopause you should examine your breasts on the first day of each calendar month. After a hysterectomy consult your doctor about the appropriate day of your physical self-examination. Self-examination of your breasts once a month helps you to significantly retain your psychosomatic balance. If you are 20 - 40 years old you ought to visit the specialist doctor once every three years or so. If you are over 40 years old you ought to visit the specialist doctor once every year.

METHOD OF INVESTIGATION

• IN THE SHOWER: Examine your breasts, during the bath or shower, when your hands can glide easily over the wet soapy skin. With your fingers outstretched and together, move your hand over every part of your breast. Use your right hand to examine your left breast and left hand to examine your right breast. Look for lumps (nodules), swelling or hardening of the skin.
• IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR: Look and inspect your breasts with your arms hanging at your sides. Then lift your arms keeping them stretched horizontally in front of your chest and then vertically lift your arms over your head. Look for any changes in the contour of each breast, for any bumps on the skin, check whether there is any discharge from the nipple or if there is any change in the shape of the nipple. Then put your hands on your hips and press down hard for the pectoral muscles to contract. Your left and your right breasts are almost never the same. Very few women have exactly the same breasts. Regular self breast inspection will indicate what is normal for you and will create self-confidence in your self-examination.
• IN LYING POSITION: when lying down to examine your right breast put a pillow or a folded towel underneath your right shoulder. Put your right hand behind your head, this will help the spreading of the breast on your chest. Use the three middle fingers of your left hand outstretched and press on the chest by making small circular movements to cover the entire area of the breast. Do not lift your hand from your chest until you complete the entire examination. Look for any lumps or swelling or any change which does not seem normal. Also examine your armpit area and the area under your collarbone (above the chest). The pictures show the preferred way of performing the breast self examination as suggested by medical doctors and women: A circular motion, a horizontal motion and a radial motion from the nipple to the periphery and vice versa can all be utilized. Select the method that is easier for you and use this method every time you self examine your breast. Finally, squeeze the nipple of each breast carefully with your thumb and forefinger. If you see a clear or bloody discharge, immediately consult your doctor. After you complete the examination of your right breast with your left hand then commence the examination of the left breath using your right hand this time round, by employing the proper technique. Compare palpation findings of the one breast with those of the other. What you should do if you discover a lump or another type of distortion in your breast: If you find a lump or a swelling during self-examination it is important to visit your doctor as soon as possible. Do not become terrified. Most lumps or changes in the breast are not cancers. But only the specialist doctor can make the correct diagnosis

Therefore for your own safety follow these guidelines of the International Scientific Community:

• Self examine your breasts once a month
• Be examined by your doctor once a year or once every six months if so desired
• Have your first mammogram at the age of 35 approximately. After the age of 40 check your breasts once a year by mammography.
• You should know that 80% of palpated tumours are benign breast lumps

THERAPY

From the surgical point of view we now have the possibility of conservative surgery, particularly when dealing with tumours of small size , by means of their local removal and administration of radiotherapy ,which also has an excellent cosmetic result.
In several cases the entire mammary gland needs to be removed (mastectomy). In this case, plastic surgery has the ability of reconstructing the breast with different methods (silicone, myodermal flaps) with good results.
Depending on the findings, some women will need to get some additional radiotherapy or some form of systematic therapy, which may be a combination of drugs chemotherapy or hormonal therapy.

MYTHS CONCERNING RADIATION

Roentgen rays or X rays used in mammography are virtually harmless. For the same reddening of the skin of the breast caused by sunbathing to be achieved about 400 mammograms on the same breast are required. Other auxiliary tests used are the use of breast ultrasound scans and magnetic resonance imaging in special cases.

RISK FACTORS

• Gender. Approximately 75% of breast cancer cases occur in women who are not considered to belong to a high risk group.
• Age. Approximately 75% of all breast cancers develop in women over 50 years of age
• Medical History of breast cancer in close relatives (mother, sister).
• Personal history. The occurrence of cancer in one breast increases the risk of occurrence in the other.
• Extended menopausal period.
• Menstruation commencing before the age of 12.
• Being older than the age of 30 when giving birth to the first child.
• Women who never gave childbirth.
• Body weight greater than 40% of your average normal weight.