Breast cancer is one of the common cancers in women. The breast is easily examined by self or the doctor.<\/p>\n
Self-examination of the breast is done after learning the technique from the specialist doctor. This should be done monthly. This is the first line of screening and a careful examination should pick up a small lump if present.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Women still having their periods need to examine their breasts at the same time each month as the shape and feel of the breasts changes with the menstrual cycle. The best time to examine the breast is 7 days after the start of each period. Breast examination by a doctor is usually got done every 6 months.<\/p>\n
Self-Examination of Breasts<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Look at your breasts in the mirror with your arms by your side, then with them up in the air. Look for puckering.
\n\u00b7 Lie down, and with the left arm behind the head, examine the left breast with the flat of the right hand fingers. Work from the upper, inner quarter and then towards the nipple.
\n\u00b7 Feel round the nipple, then continue to the lower inner quarter.
\n\u00b7 Put your arm by your side, then working from outside the breast area, feel towards the lower outer quarter, the nipple, then the upper outer quarter.
\n\u00b7 Check the breast tissue across the top of the breast to the armpit.
\n\u00b7 Feel inside the armpit.<\/p>\n
For the right breast begin with the upper inner quarter and your right arm behind your head.<\/p>\n
There is an other specialised screening test for breast cancer called mammography. This is a special X-ray of the breast useful for detecting cancers too small to be felt. This is done in patients at high risk, usually after the age of 50 years.<\/p>\n
All patients with a breast lump should be seen by a specialist so that it may be looked at closely and if necessary biopsied. The majority of breast lumps that are biopsied, do not contain cancer (they are benign), but this can only be proved by examining the lump under a microscope.<\/p>\n
The decision whether to perform a biopsy or not, can only be made by a specialist and general practitioners should refer all patients with a breast lump immediately to a breast clinic.<\/p>\n
Warning Signs of Breast Cancer<\/p>\n
\u00b7 Unusual difference in size or shape of the breasts.
\n\u00b7 Alterations in the position of either nipple.
\n\u00b7 Retraction (turning in) of either nipple.
\n\u00b7 Puckering (dimple) of the skin surface over the breast.
\n\u00b7 Unusual rash on the breast or nipple.
\n\u00b7 Unusual prominence of the veins over either breast.
\n\u00b7 Unusual discrete lump or nodule in any part of either breast on Palpation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"