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Fig 1. Examples of changes in breast that should be reported to your doctor.
Now lie down and while keeping your fingers together, use your left hand to feel your right breast and then your right hand for your left.
Do a light circular feel or touch and then a deeper one for each section of your breast. Breast tissue extends all the way to your armpit, collarbone, abdomen and sternum.
Feel every part going either in a ‘mowing-lawn-pattern' or ‘sweeping in lines' from top to bottom. (fig 2.)
Fig 2. Examining the whole breast using a ‘mowing the lawn' pattern
2 ) Breast exam by your doctor
The current recommendation is to have your doctor examine your breasts every 1-2 years beginning from the age of 20years. Preferably, this is something you can have done during visits to your Obstetrics/Gynecology doctor for your routine pelvic exam and pap smear.
3) Mammogram
A mammogram is a very sensitive tool for detecting any changes in your breast sometimes 2 years before you can actually see changes. It works like an x-ray machine but the radiation from it is very small and not considered harmful. Ask your doctor when best to begin having mammograms done. Generally, it is recommended that women 40 years and above should have one done every year. However, women at high risk for developing breast cancer, who have a family history of breast or ovarian cancer, or have had previous chest radiation, should talk to their doctor as to when best to begin screening—it might be at a much earlier age.
a)
b)
Fig 3. a) Set-up for taking an x-ray of a breast. b) Sample films showing changes in breast
The test involves placing one breast on an x-ray machine which is pressed down slowly onto the breast until some pressure is felt. This is to help spread out your breast tissue enough to get pictures of every inch. The x-ray itself lasts about 3 minutes; some of my patients have complained that the test can be rather uncomfortable or painful. To help with this, plan on having your mammogram done a week after your period when your breasts are less tender. If it is alright with your doctor, you can also take an aspirin or another pain killer just before you go in for your mammogram. I also suggest that you alert the technician or doctor during the exam of any discomfort you may feel.
Other helpful tips to make the day a bit easier:
• Wear clothes that will make it easy to stay covered from below during the exam (e.g.blouse and pants or skirt)
• Do not use deodorant or underarm powder as this can form shadows on your x-ray film.
• If you have had prior breast surgery or implants, tell the doctor or technician in advance.
• Keep a copy of your films and take them with you each time you have a mammogram to help compare and identify significant changes in your breast
Web resources for information on:
1) Mammogram centers near you. Visit: http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/mammography/certified.html or call the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Information Service toll free at 1-800-422-6237 (TTY is 1-800-332-8615). For women in other countries, please use your primary care doctor as a resource for locating a center and getting frequent updates.
2) Types of breast cancers and treatment options http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/breast-cancer/HQ00348
http://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/
http://www.cancersurvivors.org/Support/emotional/stories2.htm
http://www.pinkribbonshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=Custom&ID
http://www.komen.org/intradoc-cgi/idc_cgi_isapi.dll?IdcService=SS_GET_PAGE&nodeId=575
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