Content

• Steps
• Advice
• Warning

Breast cancer occurs when cells in the chest grow out of control and form a malignant tumor. This particular type of cancer usually occurs in women, although sometimes, men also get it. Self-discovery is essential to avoid tumor metastasis. Regular breast self-exams (BSE) can help you spot breast cancer in time. Regular mammograms are also essential.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Chest Self-Exam

1. 

   Plan a breast self-examination. Mark up to schedule when you need to do a chest self-examination. Do this once a month, preferably within 5 to 7 days after your period has cleared. Regular breast self-exams will help you feel the “normal” breasts. Hang up a calendar or reminder to do a self-check in the bathroom or bedroom so you don't forget it. In addition, you can record your observations.
   • Do a breast exam in a well-lit place.

2. 

   
   
   Eye examination. Stand upright with your hands on your hips, then look in the mirror. Observe if breasts are of normal size, color, and shape. If you have one of the following symptoms, see your doctor:
   • Be noticeably erect even when you're not in a period
   • Skin is dented, wrinkled, or bulging
   • Nipples are indented
   • The nipples are pulled misaligned
   • Red, itchy, or tender.

3. 

   
   
   Raise your hand and repeat the visual test. Watch for discharge from the nipples. If there is a discharge from it, look for color (yellow or clear) and composition (bloody or opaque white). Note if your breasts are draining, even if you are not squeezing your nipples. Tell your doctor if the fluid is bloody or clear, or the fluid has only been leaking from one side of your chest.

4. 

   
   
   Touching the chest. Lay. Close the index, middle, and ring fingers of your right hand. Use those three fingers to press on the left breast in a circular motion. The circle should have a minimum circumference of 2 cm. Press lightly on your chest in a line from collarbone to abdomen. Then, starting at your armpits, push your hand lightly in the center. Repeat to check the other breast. To make sure that you have a full chest exam, work in a longitudinal direction. Next, get up or sit down to repeat from the beginning. Use both hands to hold your breasts. Many people like to do this step after taking a bath.
   • Feel for lumps or other changes. Talk to your doctor about any tumors you have found.
   • Hold your chest with a light, medium, and tight grip. In other words, press around your breasts with slight force, then repeat with increasing force. You need to use light pressure to detect differences in the skin close to the skin. The moderate pressure will help you feel the deeper areas, and the strongest pressure will help you feel the tissue close to your ribs.

5. 

   Pay attention to some controversy in this regard. Some studies show that the breast self-examination does not help detect breast cancer early, but only increases anxiety and incur biopsy. You should talk to your doctor about self-exams. Your doctor may advise you to always keep an eye on the condition of your breasts, so that if any changes occur, you will know immediately. advertisement

Part 2 of 3: Understanding Cancer Risk Factors

1. 

   Understand the importance of carcinogens. Finding breast cancer early is important. If you have one of such carcinogens, do a breast self-examination early. You can have a chest x-ray if you feel a lump in your chest, or you have a high risk of developing cancer, or you are over 40 years old.

2. 

   Pay attention to genetics. Women are more likely to develop breast cancer than men. Also, if your blood relative (mother, sister, etc.) has had breast cancer, your risk of it will be higher. There are also a number of mutated genes that determine the likelihood that someone will get breast cancer. The mutated genes are BRCA 1 and BRCA2. 5 to 10% of cancers are caused by genetic mutations.
   • In the US, white women have a higher risk of breast cancer.
   • Certain ethnic groups are more susceptible to the BRCA mutation, including Norwegians, Icelandic, Dutch, and Ashkenazi of Jewish descent.

3. 

   Understand the effects of your medical history. There are many factors about your health that could previously have put you at risk for breast cancer. Women who have had breast cancer on one breast are more likely to have it again. People who had had radiation therapy in the chest area as a child are also likely to develop the disease. Other health factors, for example, if you have menstrual periods when you are 11 years old or younger, you have a higher risk of breast cancer. The arrival of menopause later than average is also a red flag. Hormone therapy after menopause also increases the risk.

4. 

   
   
   Lifestyle also affects the risk of disease. People who are obese are more likely to get the disease. Women who drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages a week also have a 15% higher risk of developing the disease. Smokers, especially women who started smoking before their first childbirth, have a higher risk of developing breast cancer. advertisement

Part 3 of 3: Preventing Breast Cancer

1. 

   
   
   Regularly examine gynecology. During regular gynecological visits, your doctor will examine your chest for lumps or other abnormalities in time. If something goes wrong, your doctor will order a breast x-ray.
   • If you do not have health insurance or cannot afford to see a doctor, there may be other organizations where you live to help prevent cancer. Planned Parenthood clinics offer counseling and can refer you to a x-ray site.
   • If you don't know where to go for help, call your local health center or call a oncologist for advice. They can recommend a reliable place to visit, get free x-rays or low cost scans.
   • If you are in the US, you can find low-cost breast cancer screening sites here: http://www.findahealthcenter.hrsa.gov/Search_HCC.aspx.

2. 

   
   
   Get regular mammograms. After turning 40, a woman should have a mammogram every two years until she is 74 years old. The earlier you find out about breast cancer, the better your chances of survival. You may have heard that a mammogram is painful, but the pain is temporary and does not hurt more than when the injection was given. Plus, it can save your life.
   • If you are at high risk, talk to your doctor about the frequency of the mammogram. Apart from that, if you are under 40 years old, it is likely that your doctor will still recommend a breast x-ray.

3. 

   Stay alert and seek help promptly. Paying attention to your breast condition will always help you detect breast cancer early signs. If you are concerned about what you find out when you do a breast self-examination, see your doctor right away.

4. 

   Set up a breast cancer prevention group. Help your loved ones and friends stay healthier by hosting an annual party where everyone will go for a mammogram together. This way, you will be less afraid of the visit and help people remember the visit.
   • Say, “I know a lot of women don't go for mammograms because they're scared and it hurts, but I want to find a way that we can make it a fun thing.Plus, we'll also have a great women's time. ”
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Advice

• If members of your family have had cancer, get detailed information to help the doctor, such as the type of cancer they have (primary or secondary), surgeries and treatment methods. treatment, reactions to treatments and results.

Warning

• Sometimes it just takes a week to get started to make the difference between life and death. Do not delay cancer control.