Use a mirror, look for abnormalities, and check lying down.
October is breast cancer awareness month and it provides a time to teach people more about the disease so that more lives can be save in the future.
Breast cancer can affect both men and women, although women are most often the targets of this disease. The good news is that today in the US, the overall 5-year survival rate for breast cancer is 90%. And the 10-year survival rate hovers around 84%. This means that, while not every person who is diagnosed with breast cancer will survive that long, most will, and go onto live fruitful lives.
A significant part of success in beating breast cancer is being able to detect it early on. In many countries, medical experts recommend that women aged 40 years and older start having annual breast cancer screening. This can involve mammograms and manual breast exams done by your doctor.
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In the US, doctors recommend women 45 to 54 get a mammogram done every year. This is an x-ray of your breasts. Once women reach 55 years of age, they can switch to having a mammogram every two years. If you feel more comfortable continuing to have it done annually, this is also a possibility.
What if you wish to check yourself more often? You can do a manual breast exam on yourself at home and raise any concerns you have with your doctor.
Here are 5 tips on how to do your own breast self-exam
Use a Mirror
Take a good look in the mirror, with your shirt and bra off. Place your arms at your sides. How do things appear? Don’t shy away from your hunches and be honest with yourself.
Look for Abnormal Shapes
While mirror-gazing, be on the lookout for anything that looks “off”. This can include breasts that look uneven, or that seem to be odd in shape. Look for visible lumps and bumps, as well as distortion and swelling. Look at your nipples for dimpling and change of shape.
Be Alert for Unusual Coloring
Another sign of breast cancer can be changes in color. Also be on the lookout for unusual redness, rashes, swelling, or soreness.
Raise Your Arms
After giving things a good look with your arms at your sides, raise them above your head. Look for the same things as before as well as any fluid coming from your nipples.
Check Lying Down
Finally, lie down on a flat surface, and use the opposite hand to check the opposite breast. Use the pads of your fingers and run them in a circular motion, slowly covering the entire breast on each side, feeling for unusual lumps.
Be sure to cover your entire breast from armpit to cleavage and collarbone to your stomach. The goal is to give every inch a check over.
Regular breast exams can go a long way in catching cancer early leading to successful intervention. Click here for a more detailed look at conducting a breast self exam and stay healthy.
photo credits: siam.pukkato/Shutterstock.com
