Can Accurate Breast-Self Examination Help You Avoid Cancer?

The most prevalent form of cancer in women worldwide is breast cancer. It occurs when abnormal cells in the breast tissue multiply uncontrollably, resulting in the formation of a tumour.

Although there are several risk factors for breast cancer, including genetics and age, the majority of cases have no clear cause. As a result, it is critical for women to perform breast self-examination in order to detect any changes in the breast as soon as possible.

Why is the Examination Conducted?

Breast self-examination can be easily done at home and does not require special equipment. There are several reasons why this inspection is important to perform periodically. Among them are:

• Detecting breast cancer early

Women can detect any changes in their breasts immediately by performing regular breast self-examination. This enables women

to seek treatment sooner, increasing their chances of a complete recovery from breast cancer.

• Increase self-awareness

Breast self-examination teaches women how to detect changes in their breasts and how normal breasts should look and feel like.

This increases self-awareness about breast health and allows women to more closely monitor their breast health.

• Reduces anxiety

Women can reduce their anxiety and fear of breast cancer by doing regular breast self-exams.

This is because they have done an examination to detect any changes in the breast and can get treatment immediately if needed.

• Reduce medical costs

The likelihood of lower treatment costs is greater when breast cancer is detected early. More advanced breast cancer may involve more expensive treatments such as surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

• Improve the quality of life

Women can reduce the impact of breast cancer on their quality of life by detecting it early and receiving treatment as soon as possible. Early treatment can help reduce side effects and allow women to resume their normal lives sooner.

What Should You Know Before Getting a Breast Exam?

There are a few things you should know before examining your breasts:

• Anxiety caused by the discovery of lumps

Anxiety is a common feeling that women experience when they discover a lump in their breast. However, not all lumps are caused by breast cancer. Most lumps are benign growths such as cysts or lipomas. Therefore, it is important to get a doctor's evaluation to determine the type of lump found.

• Further examination may be necessary

If the doctor suspects that a lump or change in the breast is cancer, additional tests such as a biopsy or an MRI may need to be performed to confirm the diagnosis. This advanced examination can aid in determining the type and severity of cancer. This is important in determining the best treatment.

• Don’t ignore other assessments

Although breast self-examination is an important early detection method for breast cancer, other examinations at the clinic or hospital should not be overlooked. Most women believe that only breast self-examination can detect cancer and thus avoid other tests. This is not accurate and women should seek regular check-ups from a medical professional.

6 Steps for Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

Breast self-examination should be performed at least once a month, preferably on the seventh day after menstruation or at the same time each month. Here are some steps to take when performing a breast self-examination:

1. Stand in front of a mirror with both hands at your sides and look at your breasts. Look for signs such as swelling, redness, scaly skin or changes in the shape of the breast.
2. Raise both hands above the head and notice if there is a change in the breast.
3. Do the inspection using your fingertips, starting from the outside of the breast and moving slowly towards the nipple. Repeat on both breasts.
4. Gently press your breast to check for lumps, bumps or other signs of cancer.
5. Examine the armpits, ribs and under the breastbone for lumps or swelling.
6. Finally, examine the nipple by paying attention to the colour, shape and fluid production from the nipple.

Self-Examination Tips

• Use your hand

Use the palm of the three middle fingers to examine the breast. However, if you have difficulty feeling with your palm, use your fingertips to put more pressure or use a more sensitive part of your hand to feel if there's any lumps present. 

• Use different pressures

You should feel the depth of the breast tissue by applying different pressures. Light pressure should be used to feel the tissue closest to the skin, medium pressure for deeper tissue, and strong pressure for tissue closest to the ribs and chest.

Make sure to apply a certain amount of pressure to each section before moving on to the next. If you are unsure or find it difficult to press, consult your doctor or nurse.

• Take your time

Don't rush the inspection. It may take a few minutes to thoroughly examine your breasts.

• The right technique

Use a systematic approach to ensure that you examine the entire breast. Consider a clock face or a slice of pie on your breast. Begin with the skin near the bone and work your way to the nipple. Then, with your finger, navigate to the next section.

Results

​The following are the possible outcomes of a breast self-examination:

Normal Breast

• The breasts are symmetrical and consistent with the rest of the body.
• There are no visible lumps, lumps or breast enlargement.
• The skin on the breast appears smooth and wrinkle-free.
• There is no pain or discomfort when touching or massaging the breast.
• Except when nursing, no fluid comes out of the nipple.

If a person finds that their breasts have the characteristics as mentioned above, then it is considered a normal result. However, it is critical to pay attention to and monitor changes in the breast in order to maintain breast health at all times.

Abnormal Breasts

• There is a lump or lump in the breast that did not exist before.
• The skin on the breast is wrinkled or discoloured.
• There is abnormal fluid coming out of the nipple such as blood or greenish fluid.
• There is pain or discomfort in the breast.
• The shape of the breast changes such as becoming rounder or saggy.

If a person exhibits the aforementioned characteristics, the outcome is considered abnormal. In this case, it is critical to seek medical attention as soon as possible to assess the changes in the breast.

Are You at Risk for Breast Cancer?

Individuals with high risk factors, such as a family history of breast cancer, will be advised to undergo more frequent and detailed screening. Breast cancer can thus be detected and treated before it spreads to other parts of the body.

Breast health is critical and should be emphasised to all women. Breast self-examination can help detect any abnormalities in the breast, whereas doctor-assisted breast examination can help detect cancer at an early stage. We can reduce the risk of breast cancer and increase our chances of living a healthy and prosperous life by regularly caring for our breast health.

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