Do Breast Self Exam at Home Today for Your Healthy Tomorrow

Image source: Zoha Nve, YongjietBreast self exam and how to do it at home?February 4th of every year is observed as world cancer day.World Cancer Day 2015 is observed under the tagline ‘Not beyond us’. This year’s campaign is to highlight that solutions do exist across the continuum of cancer and that they are within our reach. Bumps n Baby team is also taking a small step to spread the word on cancer awareness. As majority of the readers of our blog are women, I thought it would be better to discuss about breast cancer.In today’s post we will discuss on how to do self-examination to detect breast cancer.What is breast cancer?Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast.The disease occurs almost entirely in women. But men can get it too in the form of cancer in the chest (rare case).Warning signs and symptoms of breast cancer:The most common symptoms are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge.Common signs include:A lump or thickening, which is different to the rest of the breast tissueContinuous pain in one part of the breast or armpitOne breast suddenly becomes larger or lowerA nipple becomes inverted, changes shape or positionSkin changes including puckering or dimplingSwelling under the armpit or around the collarboneA rash on or around the nippleDischarge from one or both nipplesFinding a breast change does not necessarily mean there is a cancer. An estimated 80 to 90 percent of breast lumps aren’t cancerous.Don’t get over anxious and stressed if you notice any changes in your breast. Keep calm and talk to your doctor.What is a breast self exam?Breast self-exam (BSE) is one way a woman can track any changes in her breasts. It is done by looking at and feeling your breast for any unusual or abnormal changes.Breast self-examination is not recommended as a screening tool for breast cancer. Routine mammography is recommended for breast cancer detection.Every woman should become familiar with how her breasts feel and look so she can more easily identify changes she feels or sees in her breasts.Why self breast examinations are important?40% of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump. Hence establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important (according to Johns Hopkins Medical center).When breast cancer is detected in its early stages, your chances of surviving the disease are greatly improved.Even those who choose not to do breast self-exam should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel. They should report any new breast changes to a health professional as soon as they are found.When to do a breast self exam?It is recommended that all women above age 20 perform a breast self-exam.The best time to do a breast self-exam is a few days after your monthly menstrual cycle ends. Hormonal changes can affect the size and feel of your breasts. It is best to perform the exam when your breasts are in their normal state.Women who do not menstruate should choose a certain day to perform the exam, such as the first of each month.How to do a breast self exam or BSE?Image source: Khadija Dawn CarrylA breast self-exam can only help in identifying of any changes or lumps in the breasts. Mammography should be performed in order to detect cancerous lumps or tumors.Breast Self Exam while lying down:Lie down and put your left arm under your headUse your right hand to examine your left breastWith your 3 middle fingers flat, move gently in s circular motion over the entire breast, checking for any lump, hard knot or thickeningUse different levels of pressure – light, medium and firm-over each area of your breastCheck the whole breast, from your collarbone above your breast down to the ribs below your breastSwitch arms and repeat on the other breastBreast Self Exam using mirror:Look at your breasts while standing in front of a mirror with your hands on your hipsLook for lumps, new difference in size and shape and swelling or dimpling of the skinRaise one arm, then the other, so you can check under your arms for lumpsSqueeze the nipple of each breast gently between your thumb and index fingerReport to your healthcare provider right away if any discharge or fluid from the nipples or any lumps or changes in your breast is noticedBreast Self Exam can be done while taking a shower too. Some women find it easy to feel their skin when it is moist.Hope this article on breast self exam helped you. Remember prevention is better than cure. Perform the breast self exam today for your healthy tomorrow.Further reading:How a pinch of salt can improve your family’s health?9 sure shot strategies for confident breastfeeding in publicUnpleasant experiences about breastfeeding no mom would like to tellShare with me in comments, your thoughts on the need of breast cancer awareness among women.