Breast Health

Early detection is your best defense against breast cancer. This involves self-examination on a regular basis, a regular clinical examination by your healthcare provider and mammography screening as recommended by the American Cancer Society. Mammography remains the most effective method available for detecting breast cancer in its earliest, most treatable stages. Mammograms can detect a tumor up to two years before it can be felt by hand during a physical examination. The good news is that eighty percent of all breast lumps are benign, or cancer-free. The twenty percent that are malignant (cancerous) can be treated immediately upon detection with often an excellent chance of recovery. Eighty-five to ninety percent of breast cancers are diagnosed in women with no family history of breast cancer. Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Gender and Age

Personal History of Breast Cancer

Family History

Environment

Nutrition

Self-Examination Breast cancer is one of the easiest types of cancer to identify. Early identification and treatment is often successful. A breast self-examination at the same time each month will allow you to notice any unusual changes, thickening or lumps more easily. It is recommended that women examine their breasts 2-3 days after menstruation stops, when their breasts are least likely to be tender or swollen. Most breast lumps or other changes in breast tissue that may be cancer are found by women during regular breast self-examination. If you do find a lump, don't panic. Most lumps are not cancerous. Do consult your doctor, however, to determine the status of the suspicious lump. It is important to find out early if you have breast cancer because it is a progressive disease. If left untreated, it continues to grow and can spread to other areas of the body. How to Perform BSE

1. Stand before a mirror. Inspect your breasts for anything unusual, such as any discharge from the nipple, or puckering, dimpling or scaling of the skin. 2. Look closely in the mirror, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward, watching for any changes in the contour of the breasts. 3. Next, press your hands firmly on your hips and bow slightly toward your mirror as you pull your shoulders and elbows forward. This next exam is done while standing in the shower because fingers glide over soapy skin, making it easy to concentrate on the texture underneath.

4. Raise one arm. Using three or four fingers of your other hand, explore firmly,carefully, and thoroughly. Beginning at the outer edge, press the flat part of your fingers in small circles, moving the circles slowly around the breast. Gradually work toward the nipple. Be sure to cover the entire breast. Pay special attention to the area between the breast and the underarm, including the underarm itself. Feel for any unusual lump or mass under the skin. 5. Gently squeeze the nipple and look for a discharge. Repeat on the other breast. 6. Steps 4 and 5 should be repeated lying down. Lie flat on your back, relax your arm to the side, and place a pillow or folded towel under your shoulder. This position flattens the breast and makes it easier to examine. Use the same circular motion described earlier. For more information, contact the Breast & Bone Health Institute, 605-328-5244 or 1-800-843-2638.