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Alternative Cancer Treatment - How To Do a Breast Self-Exam?

Author: www.thealternativecancertreatment.com Total views: 7 Word Count: 684

Generally, about 1 in 12 women will contract breast cancer at some age and the odds are higher later in life. Courtesy of modern medicine, many breast cancers can be successfully treated with minimum impact. However, one's treatment success level is extremely dependent on early detection. The earlier breast cancer is detected the higher your chance for survival. One easy way to increase the odds of early discovery is the performance of a regular breast self exam.

The goal of breast self examination is to detect changes which might signal a condition worth investigating more closely, either with a professional clinical exam, mammogram or other diagnostic aid. Those changes might indicate an abnormality. But to judge what's abnormal, it's essential to know what constitutes normal. That varies from individual to individual, though there are commonalities.

The first element in conducting a proper breast self exam is having knowledge of what your breasts normally feel and look like. Every aspect of your body goes through subtle changes on a regular basis. During the menstrual cycle those changes tend to be exaggerated. Breasts might become enlarged or more sensitive. It is ideal to begin your self-exam a few days after your period every month so that it becomes a habit. Post-menopausal women should try and choose the same day of each month to perform the exam.

Stand in front of a mirror unclothed and make a visual inspection. Look for changes in the size of only one breast. Normal menstrual cycles and other hormonally related variation will usually affect both the same. Look for any changes in size or color of the nipple or areola (the darker skin around the nipple). Note any wrinkling or 'orange peel' appearance that is not due to cold temperature. Most areola are round. Look for any lack of symmetry.

Squeeze a nipple gently and note any fluid that comes out. Some lactation is normal in some women. But yellowish, pus-like fluid is a reason to call your physician for a closer look. It may be a simple infection or it could be an early sign of a developing tumor. Repeat the procedure for the other nipple.

Check the breast for tumors by feeling carefully over the entire surface of the breast with your arms lowered. Make sure you include not just the surface from the breast bone to the side, but also up toward the armpit as well. Press your finger pass firmly moving your hand slowly as your feel for any thickening or lumps.

A lump could be nothing more than a simple cyst which is a fluid filled tissue sac. Often cysts are round and palpable. They are typically benign even though you might want to have them removed. Cysts usually fade spontaneously over time.

Cancerous lumps are typically harder and less regular in shape. They are usually attached to an individual's breast tissue. Not all hard lumps should be immediately deemed cancerous, so don't be unnecessarily alarmed. Most are simply what are called fibroadenomas- which are merely benign clumps of cells. Professional tests are necessary in order to know for sure.

Be very aware of any lumps that you notice changing in size. Cancer is malignant, uncontrolled growth and reproduction of cells in tissue. Cancerous tumors do not remain static, but instead increase in size and later can potentially spread to other areas of the body.

Continue the tactile exam by raising the arms overhead and applying pressure all the way from the breastbone up to the armpit again. Repeat for the other side and breast.

You want to make sure you perform the procedure again, this time while lying down with the arms lowered and then raised overhead. This is again for the observation of any changes, especially tissues that have become hard. The procedure can be repeated in the shower in effort to reduce friction on the skin, but sometimes it is difficult to find changes or lumps when water is splashing on your skin, you might want to use baby oil instead.

Any woman over age 20 should be performing regular breast self-exams, while those over 40 should get a mammogram at least annually.

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