BREAST CANCER 101: BREAST SELF EXAMS
Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second-most fatal cancer among African women.
Black women also have a higher incidence rate before 40 years of age and are more likely to die from breast cancer at every age. Breast cancer mortality is 41 percent higher among Black women than White females. According to a recent study. the disparities in mortality between African and White women are largely attributable to societal factors such as socioeconomic status and access to health care. The study noted that if Black women were getting screened and following up with mammograms regularly, their risk of dying from cancer would be significantly reduced. However even when they are screened, Black women are being diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer, a much more aggressive and often fatal form of the disease. “There is a higher incidence of triple negative cancer in African younger women. “The most important thing to understand is that breast cancer can be very curable if it is caught early. Breast cancer is not a death sentence.”
PREVENTION IS THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT IT .
Doing things like talking about cancer
>Being aware,
>Talking to family members,
>Eating a plant heavy diet,
>Smoking cessation
>All these things can lead to prevention if they’re done early.”
>You have to investigate and know your body,
You only go to the doctor about once every six months, but you’re with your body every day
If you are not able to get a mammogram, there's still something you can do to check out that is free and painless, and that is performing breast self-exams at home.
WHAT IS BREAST SELF-EXAMS?
A breast self-exam is the act of checking your breasts to help detect breast problems or changes in appearances. It’s a non-invasive exam that doesn’t cause any discomfort. Health experts suggest that all women should start doing these exams regularly in their early 20s.
WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR?
>> Lumps (they can be painful or not painful to touch)
>> Foul-smelling or bloody discharge from your nipples
>> Changes in the skin of your breast such as dimpling or ridges that resemble an orange
>> An inverted nipple
>> One breast being larger or lower than the other
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
The best time to perform breast self-exam is a week after your period starts, when your breast tissue seems more swollen and tender.
>> Take off your shirt and bra.
>> Lay down to make it easier to feel your breast tissue.
>> Take your middle three fingers and rub in dime-sized circles using the middle parts of your fingers.
>> Use three different pressures when doing your self-exam:
>> Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue close to the skin surface. Medium pressure is used to feel a little deeper, and firm pressure is used to feel your tissue close to your breastbone and ribs. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. Use each pressure level to feel your breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.
>> Make sure you check your breasts near the collarbone and around the armpit, too. Repeat on both sides.
It’s also important to talk to your doctor about how to perform a breast self-exam and have him or her show you how to do it properly.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE BREAST SELF-EXAMS?
You may detect your cancer early, which in many instances can make all the difference between life and death. This especially rings true for African-American women, who are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage. Early detection may mean catching the cancer before it has spread to other parts of the body.
But it’s also really important to keep in mind that early detection dosn’t always lower your risk. Not all cancers, such as inflammatory breast cancer or other forms of aggressive breast cancer, benefit from early detection.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FIND A LUMP OR CHANGES?
Make an appointment with your doctor. He or she might do a clinical breast exam and a mammogram later down the road.
PREVENTION IS THE BEST WAY TO FIGHT IT .
Doing things like talking about cancer
>Being aware,
>Talking to family members,
>Eating a plant heavy diet,
>Smoking cessation
>All these things can lead to prevention if they’re done early.”
>You have to investigate and know your body,
You only go to the doctor about once every six months, but you’re with your body every day
If you are not able to get a mammogram, there's still something you can do to check out that is free and painless, and that is performing breast self-exams at home.
WHAT IS BREAST SELF-EXAMS?
A breast self-exam is the act of checking your breasts to help detect breast problems or changes in appearances. It’s a non-invasive exam that doesn’t cause any discomfort. Health experts suggest that all women should start doing these exams regularly in their early 20s.
WHAT AM I LOOKING FOR?
>> Lumps (they can be painful or not painful to touch)
>> Foul-smelling or bloody discharge from your nipples
>> Changes in the skin of your breast such as dimpling or ridges that resemble an orange
>> An inverted nipple
>> One breast being larger or lower than the other
HOW DO YOU DO IT?
The best time to perform breast self-exam is a week after your period starts, when your breast tissue seems more swollen and tender.
>> Take off your shirt and bra.
>> Lay down to make it easier to feel your breast tissue.
>> Take your middle three fingers and rub in dime-sized circles using the middle parts of your fingers.
>> Use three different pressures when doing your self-exam:
>> Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue close to the skin surface. Medium pressure is used to feel a little deeper, and firm pressure is used to feel your tissue close to your breastbone and ribs. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. Use each pressure level to feel your breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.
>> Make sure you check your breasts near the collarbone and around the armpit, too. Repeat on both sides.
It’s also important to talk to your doctor about how to perform a breast self-exam and have him or her show you how to do it properly.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF THE BREAST SELF-EXAMS?
You may detect your cancer early, which in many instances can make all the difference between life and death. This especially rings true for African-American women, who are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a later stage. Early detection may mean catching the cancer before it has spread to other parts of the body.
But it’s also really important to keep in mind that early detection dosn’t always lower your risk. Not all cancers, such as inflammatory breast cancer or other forms of aggressive breast cancer, benefit from early detection.
WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU FIND A LUMP OR CHANGES?
Make an appointment with your doctor. He or she might do a clinical breast exam and a mammogram later down the road.
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