According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), breast cancer is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. Breast cancer is easier to treat if detected at an early stage so it is important to examine the breast to ensure its health. There are several ways to check breast health and find out if there is an abnormal condition or not.
Step
Method 1 of 4: Performing a Breast Self-Examination
Step 1. Increase breast awareness
Make yourself comfortable touching your breasts and know what "normal" is like. Know how your breasts look and how they feel to the touch. Get to know your breasts well through texture, contour, size, and so on. This will allow you to better know if there are any changes in your breasts and provide this information to your doctor. In addition, by caring more about your breasts, you also feel that you have more control over yourself because you are so active in maintaining your health and well-being.
- Raising awareness of your breasts is one of the best things you can do for yourself if you are so worried about breast cancer. By knowing the normal condition of your breasts well, you will also be able to know better when there is something abnormal in your breasts.
- If you have a partner, involve him in the breast examination process and let him know the condition of your breasts well. This is important because your partner sees and touches your body from different angles and may be able to see things you can't. Ask your partner to let you know if he feels any changes he sees or feels.
Step 2. The issue of breast self-examination is debatable
In the past, monthly breast self-examination (BSE) was recommended for all women. However, in 2009, the Preventive Services Task Force in the United States opposed the practice of consistent breast self-examination (BSE) after numerous studies showed that BSE did not reduce mortality rates or increase the number of cancers found. Studies conducted after that confirmed that BSE did not have an important role in detecting harmful breast bulges.
- At this time, the American Cancer Society and the US Preventive Services Task Force recommend that BSE be performed at your own risk. These organizations also emphasize that the real key is being aware of what is normal for your breast tissue.
- One of the reasons for opposing BSE is that it can lead to unnecessary testing (such as a biopsy), which can be painful for patients and put a strain on the country's health system. When performing a BSE, we can mistake a benign bulge as dangerous while a mammogram can be more accurate in locating a dangerous bulge that requires medical attention.
- BSE should never be done without a doctor's examination. BSE makes you more aware of what is normal in your breasts so you can help your doctor detect changes.
Step 3. Know what to look for
There are several signs that you should watch for when examining your breasts visually or manually to determine if cancer is present or not, including the following:
- Changes in breast size or shape - Swelling that occurs due to a tumor or infection can change the shape and size of breast tissue. It often occurs in only one breast but in some cases it can occur in both breasts.
- Nipple discharge - If you are not breastfeeding, there should be no discharge from the nipple. If you have any discharge, especially if it comes out without you squeezing your nipple or breast tissue, see your doctor immediately.
- Swelling - There are several types of aggressive and aggressive breast cancer that can cause swelling in the breast, collarbone or armpit. In some cases, the swelling occurs before you can feel the bulge.
- Dimple-like dimpling - Tumors in the breast near the surface of the skin or nipple can change the shape and appearance of tissue, including dimple-like dimpling. Also try to check for inverted nipples, which is also a sign of this disease.
- Redness, heat or itching - Inflammatory breast cancer is a rare but aggressive type of cancer that presents with symptoms similar to a breast infection: burning, itching, or redness.
Step 4. Perform a visual BSE
You can do it whenever you want. But the best time to do it is after your period because your breasts are less sore and swollen. Try to do it every month at the same time. You can write it down on your agenda to remind you every month.
- Sit or stand without a top or bra in front of a mirror. Raise and lower your arms. Find out if there is a change in the size, shape, firmness and appearance of your breasts using the signs mentioned above as a guide.
- Then put your palms on your hips and tighten your chest muscles. Try to find out if there are hollows, dimples or other abnormal things.
Step 5. Perform BSE manually
Take time each month to do the BSE manually. If you are still having your period, the best time to do this is a few days after your period is over when your breasts are at their least firm. You can do this test lying down; in this position, the breast tissue is further spread out so that it becomes thinner and easier to feel with the hands. Another alternative is to do it in the shower when the soap and water help your fingers move more smoothly over the breast skin. You can also do both ways to optimize the inspection. Follow these steps:
- Lie down and put your right hand behind your head. Use the first three fingers of your left hand to feel your right breast tissue. Make sure you use the fleshiest parts of your fingers, not just the tips of your fingers. Look for anything that feels hard and round.
- Start with the armpit area and work your way towards the center of each breast. Move your hands down your midsection until you come to the sternum (breastbone).
- Use three different pressure levels to feel the tissue at the top under the skin, in the middle of the breast and a stronger pressure to feel the tissue close to the chest wall. Make sure to hit three different levels in each area before moving on to another area.
- When you have examined one breast, examine the other. Place your left hand under your head and do the same on your left breast.
- Remember that the chest tissue extends all the way to the area near the armpit. A bulge or cancer may appear in this area, so it's important to have it checked when you perform a manual BSE.
Method 2 of 4: Scheduling a Clinical Breast Examination
Step 1. Schedule annual "well woman exams"
This physical or pelvic exam is done annually by an obstetrician or family doctor. It's a good idea to see your doctor every year for a checkup, even if you feel well. This is especially important as age increases and the risk for certain cancers, including breast cancer, also increases.
At the start of the examination, provide your most recent health record. Often breast cancer is hereditary, so breast screening is even more important if there is a history of breast cancer in your family, especially if it is your mother or sister
Step 2. Have a breast exam by a doctor
During a physical or pelvic exam, your doctor will usually manually examine your breasts for bulges or other suspicious changes. If not, ask your doctor to do it. Doctors are trained to perform breast exams and know what to look for and what signs are worrisome. Therefore, you should never replace the examination by this doctor with a self-examination.
If you feel uncomfortable, you can ask a nurse or family member to accompany you during the examination. If your doctor is a male, this becomes standard procedure
Step 3. Ask for the appearance of the breast to be examined
The doctor will start by examining the appearance of your breasts. You will be asked to raise your arms above your head and then lower them to either side of your body while your doctor checks the size and shape of your breasts.
Step 4. Have a physical examination
While lying on the examination table, the doctor uses the pads of the fingers to examine the entire breast area, including the armpits and collarbone. This check lasts only a few minutes.
Step 5. Keep calm and breathe
If you're feeling anxious, take a deep breath and remind yourself that it's important to take care of your health.
Also remind yourself that breast cancer is easier to treat when found early and before it has spread to other organs, tissues, and bones
Method 3 of 4: Undergoing a Mammogram Examination
Step 1. Get a mammogram every year when you are 40 years old
The National Breast Cancer Foundation in the United States recommends having a mammogram every one to two years for women aged 40 years and over. If someone in your family has had breast cancer or you notice a bulge during a self-examination, your doctor may suggest that you start having a mammogram even if you are not yet 40 years old.
- Mammogram examination for women aged 75 years and over depends on their overall health. If he has a number of health problems, it is unlikely that he will be able to undergo treatment if he is indeed cancer positive. Therefore, this mammogram examination can be said to be futile.
- For women who undergo genetic testing and find that they carry mutations in the breast cancer genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2), mammogram screening should begin at age 25 and may involve an MRI scan of the breast tissue as well.
Step 2. Understand how this procedure works
A mammogram is an x-ray with a low level of radiation that allows your doctor to see your breast tissue. Often, a mammogram can detect a bulge in breast tissue before you can even feel it.
While the primary purpose of a mammogram is to look for potential growth of cancer cells, this test can also detect calcifications, fibroadenomas, and cysts in tissue
Step 3. Prepare for a mammogram
Find out if there are any requirements that must be met before having a mammogram. You should not wear deodorant, perfume or skin moisturizer on the day of the mammogram, as these products can interfere with the test results.
- Make sure you wear loose-fitting tops that are easy to remove while having a mammogram.
- Read the procedures available to calm yourself down if you are feeling anxious. This test can feel a little uncomfortable but only takes a few minutes.
Step 4. Discuss your breasts with your doctor and mammogram examination technician
They need to know if you have an implant in your breast, or whether or not you are on your period.
Step 5. Run the test
In a mammogram test, your breast is placed on a device and pressed to flatten the breast tissue, keep the tissue in position when the x-ray beam is emitted, and allow the use of low-energy x-rays.
- You will feel the pressure and may feel a little uncomfortable during this mammogram test, but this is only temporary.
- A mammogram is performed on both breasts so the radiologist can compare the two.
Step 6. Wait for the result
If there is a potential for cancer to show up in the test results, you may need further tests such as an ultrasound of the breast to look for cysts or an MRI to evaluate and distinguish a dangerous bulge from a benign one.
If the mammogram and MRI detect a tumor or cancerous cell growth, the doctor may suggest a needle biopsy with ultrasound to determine the type of cell growth and the type of treatment needed to treat this cancer (surgery, chemotherapy, radiation, etc.). In a biopsy, tissue is taken from a suspicious area of the breast and analyzed in a laboratory. Most tissue biopsies are outpatient procedures so you don't have to be hospitalized
Method 4 of 4: Knowing the Risk Factors
Step 1. Know the basic risk factors for breast cancer
Although the main factor for developing breast cancer is female gender, there are also several other factors that increase a person's chances of developing breast cancer, including:
- Age: The risk increases with age. Many people who get breast cancer are over 45 years old. When you reach 50, your risk increases tenfold for every decade over the age of 50.
- Menstruation: If you get your first period before age 12, or go through menopause when you're older than 55, your risk increases slightly. In both cases, the risk is higher due to increased ovulatory cycles.
- Pregnancy: Pregnancy at a young age or the number of pregnancies more than one can reduce the risk of developing cancer. Having no children or becoming pregnant after the age of 40 increases the risk of developing cancer.
- Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) or hormone replacement therapy: Undergoing this therapy or having had it for more than 10 years can increase the risk of breast cancer.
Step 2. Realize that your lifestyle can affect your risk of breast cancer
Obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption and work that demands to be awake at night are factors that cause breast cancer.
- Body Mass Index (BMI), which is an indicator of body fat, determines whether a person is overweight or obese. The BMI number is determined by dividing a person's body weight in kilograms (kg) by the height squared in meters (m). A BMI between 25-29.9 is categorized as overweight while a BMI greater than 30 is categorized as obese. A BMI over 35 is considered highly susceptible to breast cancer because fat cells secrete estrogen which feeds many cancer cells.
- There is also recently found evidence that long-term smoking is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer. This risk is high among certain groups of smokers, such as women who started smoking before giving birth to their first child. Research is still being done to determine the exact relationship between smoking and breast cancer.
- Alcohol is also linked to a higher risk of developing breast cancer. This risk increases the more you consume alcohol. The women who consumed two drinks of alcohol per day had a 1.5 times higher risk than women who did not consume alcohol.
- Recent research has shown that women who work at night (such as nurses) may have a higher risk of developing breast cancer because of changes in melatonin levels. However, further research is needed to confirm this.
Step 3. Know your personal and family health history
There are also risk factors that are directly connected to you, your family history, and your genetics, including:
- Personal medical history: If you have previously been diagnosed with breast cancer, the chances of you developing breast cancer in the same breast or in the other breast increase three to four times.
- Family history: The chances of getting breast cancer are high if one or more of your family members have had breast, uterine, uterine or bowel cancer. Your risk is doubled if you have a close relative (sister, mother, daughter) with the disease. If two of your close relatives suffer from it, your risk triples.
- Genes: Defects in genes found in BRCA1 and BRCA2 can dramatically increase the risk of breast cancer. You can find out if you have this gene by contacting a genome mapping service. In general, about 5-10% of cancer cases are related to heredity.
Step 4. Realize that most women with breast cancer do not actually have these risk factors
Most women do not have the risk factors above and do not have a chance or have a small chance of developing breast cancer. Therefore, it is important for women to follow the guidelines above to maintain breast health and immediately contact a doctor if there are changes in breast tissue.
Warning
- Always see a doctor for a diagnosis. You can't diagnose breast cancer after doing a home self-examination. So before you get too anxious or worried, find the answers you need to make the right decision.
- Remember that all breast exams are not perfect, be it done yourself, by a doctor or even a mammogram. The test can give a false positive or negative result. Seek a second opinion and discuss treatment options and others with your doctor.
