Breast Cancer: Steps To Aid In Early Detection
Donna Rivera-Loudon
I learned some interesting facts about breast cancer that I
feel every woman should know. The sources I used for this
article included the American Cancer Society, The National
Cancer Institute, and the Avon Foundation’s Breast Cancer
Crusade.
Early breast cancer isn’t usually detected by pain. In fact,
when breast cancer first develops, there may be no symptoms at
all. That is why regular exams are important. If you have
anything that makes you suspect breast cancer, contact your
doctor immediately. Don't wait around to see what happens. Let
the professional decide. Some symptoms that may indicate breast
cancer include, but are not limited to, the following:
Nipple discharge or tenderness
Lumps in breast and/or underarm area
Visual changes which include: size of breast including
swelling; inverted nipple; and pitting. Pitting means the skin
looks like the skin of an orange. Scaling of the breast skin
could also be a symptom.
Early detection of breast cancer is important. There is a 97%
five-year survival rate when breast cancer is detected early
since this can help prevent it from spreading. Below are some
guidelines to early detection. I hope they help save someone's
life.
Get a Mammogram
A mammogram is a specialized x-ray of the breast to help detect
cancers which cannot be detected by feel. Some women are
confused as to how often they should get a mammogram. Here is
what the professionals say about mammograms.
At age 40 begin getting annual mammograms by a licensed
technician. A mammogram will take about twenty minutes. When
getting a mammogram avoid wearing deodorant, powders, or cream
under your arms. Sometimes they can interfere with the results.
Make sure to contact the center if they do not inform you of the
results within thirty days. It is very important that results
are compared from one year to the next. Hence, be sure you know
where your mammogram film is being held.
Clinical Breast Exam
This is an exam by a health care professional. Women in their
20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam at least every
three years and women 40 or older should have an exam each
year.
Self-Examination
Starting at age 20 women should begin doing a self-exam. Ask
your doctor if you are not exactly sure how to do this or if
you are not sure you are doing it correctly. Here are a few
guides to follow: Lie down and place one arm behind your head.
Using your three middle finger pads press firmly across your
breast in overlapping dime-size circular motions. Use three
different levels of pressure: light, medium, and firm. This
allows you to feel the tissue close to your skin, to feel a
little deeper, and to feel the tissue closest to your chest and
ribs.
Move across your breast in an up and down pattern, starting
from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of
the chest bone, repeating the pressure.
Stand in front of a mirror with your hands pressing down on
your hips and look at your breasts for any changes in size,
shape, contour, or dimpling. Also, do this with your arms
slightly raised. Make sure you check under your breasts as
well.
I hope that this information proves helpful to you. I am not a
health care provider and by no means a professional on breast
cancer. I am simply sharing with every woman possible the
importance of detecting breast cancer early and some simple
guidelines that might save a life.
My sources for the above information are:
American Cancer Society The National Cancer Institute Breast
Health Resource Guide by the Avon Foundation's Breast Cancer
Crusade
About The Author: Donna has an MBA in information technology
and is currently a Tupperware Director and CEO of her own
company. She may be contacted at
webmaster@todaysmodernwoman.com or at
DonnaLoudon@my.tupperware.com. Visit A Website for the Modern
Woman for more http://www.todaysmodernwoman.com
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