Without Dash

I have a confession to make. Up until now I haven’t been really interested in topics as breast cancer. I have never performed a self examination, and would not even know how to do it. I would not know what could cause breast cancer, or what would help to prevent it. I did hear somewhere (I guess my mum told me it) that it was also related to having children and breast feeding, but I’m never a fan of these statistics on chances and risks. I live a life somewhere between healthy and enjoying and do not want to worry over every disease and risk factor. Do you think that that is bad?

Apparently not, because according to research by the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation the majority of women between 20 and 39 shares my opinion and lacks knowledge on breast health. Over 50% of these women do not perform the breast self examination, either because they do not know how to do it, or they feel that they do not have time for it (something I can imagine, adding another ‘should’ that takes ‘only 10 minutes’ to your routine). 60% of the women believe that they are not at risk (count me in that group as well) and wrongly believe that breast cancer is preventable (and so I thought).

It’s Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Where have you been if you haven’t noticed that yet? Even I have to acknowledge by day 27 of constant bombarding of facts, myths, research, news, highlights, etc on breast cancer, that it is catching my attention. It’s a good thing that it is an awareness month and not just a weekend. Now I could not ignore it, and it is a topic worth some attention. I have learned a few things on breast cancer lately and feel that other women should know these things too.

• Pain is usually not a sign of breast cancer.
• White women are more likely to get breast cancer than women of other racial groups.
• Men can get breast cancer as well.
• Mammograms are X-ray pictures of the breast and can find breast cancer in the earliest stages.
• Gaining weight after menopause puts you at risk.
• Lumpy breasts don’t mean a higher risk of cancer. Many women have cysts in their breasts that come and go throughout their menstrual cycles
• A father or brother with prostate or colon cancer can raise your risk.
• Eighty percent of all breast tumors are benign
• Diet and exercise lower your risk.

Self Exam:
The self exam consists of two parts: looking and feeling. If you still menstruate, the best time to do it is five days after the start of your period, when your breasts are least tender. Breast feeding mothers should perform the test when the breast is empty.

Looking: Use a mirror large enough to see your whole chest. Check the shape and size of your breasts, and the color and the texture of your skin in four positions: (1) With your arms down. (2) With your arms up. (3) With your hands on your hips and your chest muscles tightened (like a body builder..) and (4) Bent forward at the waist with your breasts hanging.

Feeling: This is best done while lying down on your back. Make small circles with your fingers on your breast. Make sure you feel every part of your breast from your armpit to the breastbone and feel the full thickness of your breasts by making light circles as well as deep ones. Work methodically to check the whole breast area spot by spot. You are looking for a firm lump or area that is different from the rest of your breast tissue.

To see the instruction with illustrations, you can download a card here or watch the video here.

There is so much more to learn and know about breast cancer. I only hope to have added to the ‘awareness months’ and give you the little nudge to Google more on the topic and learn a thing or two. Be welcome to add facts and knowledge to the comments.

Tags: breast cancer, Health