Breast Self Examinations

Over the next few weeks, I’d like to do a bit of education. I’m going to provide you with information on breast cancer. Feel free to write and ask question if you have any.This week, I’d like to talk about breast self examinations and how to perform them. So, here is Breast Cancer 101 – Self Examinations.#1: Breast Self ExaminationsOne of the best ways to detect breast cancer in the early stages is by performing a routine self examination. By doing monthly exams, you become familiar with the look and feel of your breasts, which will allow you to detect any irregularities, should one occur.Breast Self Examinations can be uncomfortable emotionally for some women, and also frustrating, because you don’t know what the heck you are looking for at first. The most important thing to remember is that you need to know your breasts as intimately as possible. If you take the time to do this once a month, you are taking an important step in terms of your breast health. Regular breast self examinations, in conjunction with yearly exams by a doctor are important factors in early detection of breast cancer.At first, it might seem like a challenge remembering to do the exam on a regular basis, but try to incorporate it into your usual routine, for example, if you get your hair done at the salon once a month, do your exam that day of the week, or it could be during the week you pay your bills, etc. Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you feel a lump, don't panic. Most women have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time. Eight out of ten breast lumps that are removed are benign, non-cancerous.Breasts tend to have different "neighborhoods." The upper, outer area—near your armpit—tends to have the most prominent lumps and bumps. The lower half of your breast can feel like a sandy or pebbly beach. The area under the nipple can feel like a collection of large grains. Another part might feel like a lumpy bowl of oatmeal.What's important is that you get to know the look and feel of YOUR breasts' various neighborhoods. Does something stand out as different from? Has anything changed? Bring to the attention of your doctor any changes in your breasts that:* last over a full month's cycle, OR* seem to get worse or more obvious over time Some women wonder why they need to have their doctors examine their breasts when they're doing regular self-exams on their own. Even though most lumps are found by women themselves, a breast exam by a doctor helps find lumps that women may miss. Sometimes, the abnormality in a breast can be so difficult to feel that only someone with experience would recognize it. Lumps, thickening, discoloration, asymmetry—changes in your breasts that you may not notice or think are "normal"—may be picked up on by people who examine many breasts regularly. Exam Steps:Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.Here's what you should look for:* breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color.* breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling. If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:* * dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin.* a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out).* redness, soreness, rash, or swelling. Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: While you're at the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a milky or yellow fluid or blood).Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side—from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. Be sure to feel all the breast tissue: just beneath your skin with a soft touch and down deeper with a firmer touch. Begin examining each area with a very soft touch, and then increase pressure so that you can feel the deeper tissue, down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.

Breast Cancer Awareness Month

We are almost at the end of breast cancer awareness month and people’s attention is beginning to die down and focus on other things. I am not going to go over the statistics, as I usually would, but I would urge people to look outside of themselves and figure out how they can stay involved in the fight against breast cancer on a regular basis, not just in October. There are so many organizations that you can get involved with. Tigerlily Foundation (www.tigerlilyfoundation.org) is a community based breast cancer support organization that provides support to the local community. We need volunteers who can meet women at chemotherapy and sit with them or run errands when needed. We also need donations for our Funds for Families Program, which is geared towards supporting families facing financial challenges while going through treatment. One of my favorite programs is our Project Gratitude, which encourages women to live with more gratitude in their lives, consciously choosing to focus on what to be thankful for, as opposed to what is going wrong in their lives.Go to www.tigerlilyfoundation.org to register for our 365 Days of Gratitude Challenge. Susan G. Komen, the Young Survival Coalition, National Breast Cancer Coalition and the African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association all have ways you can get involved in breast cancer activities, as well.One in seven being affected is too high a statistic. I was at a speaking event a few weeks ago, where I was speaking to young, college age women. Many of them felt like, “it can’t happen to me”. So, I had a few of them come stand around me and then I asked one of them to put up her hand. Well, the group that came were all friends and the one girl did put up her hand. “Well”, I said to her, “you all make up a portion of the demographic. You could be the one who might be diagnosed”. Then, it really hit them, and they began to ask questions and I could explain more about self examinations, being more of an advocate for themselves and others and taking control of their lives. Because, you see, healthy lifestyle habits, including screening for breast, cervical, lung cancer, etc., even learning to manage stress shouldn’t just be something we do when a major event happens to impact us, but should be taught to young people early in life, so that it becomes part of their lifestyle. So, even though breast cancer awareness month ends in a few days, keep in mind that a healthy lifestyle, health breasts and bodies are something we need to be conscious of all the time.Please visit me at www.tigerlilyfoundation.org or www.maimahkarmo.com to learn more or sign up for our newsletters.