04 Oct 2002

DO YOU KNOW HOW HEALTHY YOUR BREASTS ARE?

women24

Who should do examinations?
All women should examine their breasts themselves each month, but especially women over 30.

When should you do it?
You should do a BSE once every month and have an examination by a health care practitioner every year. The best time to examine your breasts is during the week after your period. That's when your breasts will be softest and least tender, making a lump easier to find.

1. Stand in front of the mirror, with your arms relaxed. It's normal for breasts to differ in size and symmetry, as long as this has always been the case. If it's new or there's dimpling, unusual shape or skin colour, or your nipples look different, take note.
2. Lift your arms above your head and look for dimpling or changes to the underside of each breast.
3. Bend forward from the hips and let your breasts hand down. Check for changes in breast contours - swelling or flattening, bulges or dimples - which are accentuated in this position.
4. Lie down with your one hand behind your head and a towel folded under your right shoulder. Using the sensitive pads (not tips) of your three middle fingers from your left hand, press lightly bur firmly in circular movements all over your breast, nipple and armpit.
5. Start your search from the rib below your breast to your armpit, up to your collarbone, over to your breastbone and back down the rib.
6. Press lightly on the area to feel for lumps just under the skin. Lumps to take note of are distinct enough to get your fingers around (most aren't cancerous, but still ask your doctor to check it out). Then push your breast harder against the ribs to search for deeper lumps.
7. Repeat on the other side.
Tip: Examine your breasts while the skin is soapy and wet to make the examination easier.

-	Personal history of a prior breast cancer
-	Mother sister, daughter or two or more close relations (such as cousins or aunts) with a history of breast cancer (especially if diagnosed at a younger age).
-	Being over the age of 50
-	Long-term hormone replacement therapy
-	A slight increase in the risk of breast cancer is associated with having a first birth at age 30 or older

-	Lumps (even if painless)
-	Discharge
-	Thickening
-	A lump or unusual swelling in the armpit.
-	A puckering of the skin of the breast.
-	An unusual increase in the size of one breast.
-	A new dimpling of the nipple.
-	One breast unusually lower than the other.
-	Nipples at different levels.
-	A change in the skin around the nipple.
-	An enlargement of the glands.

-	A diet high in animal fats
-	Alcohol comsumption of more than two drinks per day
-	Smoking
-	Being more than 10% overweight
-	Low physical activity

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