Breast Cancer in Early Stages: Awareness is the biggest weapon in the fight against a disease like cancer. Every woman should take out a few minutes in a month just for herself, stand in front of the mirror, feel lightly and recognize her body.
In their busy lifestyle, women take care of the health of others, but often postpone their own check-ups. Especially breast health, which is a very important aspect of life, it is common to ignore it. But do you know that timely identification of a small lump can save your life? 1 in 3 women feel a breast lump or change at some point, but most of them consider it normal. While the truth is that not every lump is cancerous, ignoring every change can be dangerous.
Why is it important to check lumps in the breast?
Breast lumps are not always dangerous; sometimes they are caused by hormonal changes, menstruation, or cysts (fluid-filled lumps). But in some cases these lumps can also become an early sign of breast cancer. That is why doctors and experts recommend that every woman should do breast self-examination once a month. The purpose of testing is not to cause fear, but to understand the body and identify changes so that if there is a problem, it can be caught in the early stages.
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How to do breast examination step-by-step
Observe in front of the mirror: Stand in front of the mirror, keep your shoulders straight and hands on your waist. Observe carefully whether the shape of both the breasts is the same or not, whether any abnormal swelling, dimpling or wrinkles in the skin are visible. Now raise both hands above the head and look again, this helps in identifying changes under the skin.
Pay attention to the position of the nipple: See if the nipple is sunken inwards, the color is changed or there is no discharge. If there is milky or bleeding, it is a sign to contact the doctor immediately.
Hand check: Now place one hand behind the head and slowly feel the entire breast in a circular movement with three fingers of the other hand. From the collarbone to the ribs, from the armpits to the middle of the chest. Then check by turning on your side, in this position lumps in the lower part of the breast can also be felt.
Check your armpits: Many times lumps are not formed in the breast, but in the armpit. Check there with light pressure to see if there is any hard part or swelling.
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Is every lump cancer?
No. Most lumps are benign (non-cancerous). These are usually caused by cysts, fibroadenomas or infection. But only the doctor can tell correctly what type of lump it is. If a lump does not disappear within 2-3 weeks or continues to grow, it is necessary to get a mammogram or ultrasound test done.
Regular medical checkup along with self-examination is necessary
Breast Self-Examination is an awareness step, but it should be done in conjunction with annual clinical examination and mammography. Women above 40 years of age should get a mammogram test done once a year. Most doctors recommend getting tested 3-5 days after your periods end. At this time, the breasts are hormonally less sensitive and it is easier to feel any changes.