Breast cancer is the most common malignant illness in women. In our country, every 12th woman falls ill to this disease, and the numbers are constantly rising. Men can also fall ill to breast cancer, but the instance is much rarer.
What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a growth in the breast which develops by increased and uncontrolled reproduction of its cells.
Malignant tumors, or cancer, represent growths which spread to surrounding tissues and organs. By the blood system or the lymph nodes, they can spread even to distant parts of the body and create new growths – metasthasis.
Benign tumors are growths that do not spread to surrounding tissues and distant body parts. They are not life-threatening, and once removed, they do not reappear.
Who is in danger of getting breast cancer?
Every woman can get breast cancer, although the risk increases with age. Even though a woman can get breast cancer at a younger age, the risk increases significantly after 40. Some factors can increase the risk of breast cancer; however, most women who have breast cancer do not have any of the known risk factors.
Which are the factors that increase the risk of breast cancer?
The risk of breast cancer exists for every woman, but some factors can increase the risk above average.
• Breast cancer or other malignant illnesses in family members (ovarian cancer, colon cancer, etc). The risk is increased if the person in question is a close family member (mother, sister,etc.) or if they had the illness at an early stage in their life
The hereditary factor is responsible for 5-10% of breast cancer cases
• Previous breast cancer – a woman who had breast cancer has a higher risk of getting the illness again in the other, or even the same breast (unless it has been removed).
• Hormonal factors – such as the use of hormone drugs, first birth after 30, not giving birth or not breast feeding are linked to a moderate increase of risk.
What can you do?
Regular check-ups are the best way to stay healthy. They ensure the illness will be discovered in the early stages when treatment is much simpler and very successful.
A malignant tumor that is discovered and treated on time gives a greater chance of complete recovery.
Which check-up is recommended?
Over 30 years old: regular self check-ups
Over 40 years old: yearly clinical breast check-up by a doctor
Between 40 and 50 years old to begin with a mammography every 2 years until the age of 70.
What is a mammography?
A mammography is an x-ray filming of the breast by specially designed equipment.
Contemporary equipment has extremely low levels of radiation which are not harmful.
A mammography lasts about 10 minutes.
Why is a mammography significant?
A mammography is the only way to discover changes or growths in the breast which can not yet be felt by hand or discovered in other types of check-ups.
What is screening?
Screening represents a program organized by the health services or some other organization in which all women of a certain age are called for regular mammography check-ups. At one point, we had a similar program in our country for discovering tuberculosis.
In developed countries, national screening programs for breast cancer have been organized for several decades. Since such a program still does not exist in our country, it is all the more important that you decide on having the necessary check-ups.
If you notice any kind of changes on your breast...
...such as a knot, a newly developed change in the shape or size of your breast, changes to the skin of your breast, the withdrawal of your nipple, the appearance of a secretion from your nipple, contact your doctor. In the majority of cases, it is not a case of breast cancer but other types of breast illness such as displasia, inflammation, cists, benign tumors, etc. However, it is always the oncologist who must give the real diagnosis.
Only 10 minutes a month are necessary for you to check whether your breasts are healthy.
With regular self check-ups, you will learn very quickly to recognize the normal structure of your breasts and learn to notice any newly developed changes in them.
Most of the changes discovered in the breasts are not cancer, but rather other types of breast illness such as displasia, inflammation, cists, benign tumors, etc. If it happens to be breast cancer, the treatment can be started on time, and chances of complete recovery are very high.
How to perform a self check-up?
Every woman above 30 should perform a self check-up once a month.
The best time to do this is just after menstruation, for example, on the 7th day of the cycle; women who no longer have a cycle can do the self check-up every first in the month.
A self check-up involves scrutinizing and feeling your breasts in front of a mirror.
In front of a mirror
1. Hands next to the body
Undress to the waist and stand in front of a mirror with your arms relaxed by your sides.
Carefully scrutinize your breasts and pay attention to the following:
Stand in front of the mirror with your hands on your hips and look at your breasts. Push hard with your hands on your hips so that you will tighten the muscles of your ribcage and pay attention to see if you can notice any changes.
3. Hands above your head
Stand in front of the mirror and slowly lift one arm at a time upwards, searching for any of the above-mentioned changes.
Touching
The feeling is done with the print area of your finger and not the tip of the finger. The fingers should be stretched out and pressed together, but not too hard. To feel your right breast, use your left hand, and vice versa.
Start from the periphery or the part of the breast closest to the collar bone. Press gently on the breast, and with small circular movements, check if there is a little knot, or an indentation, then move on to the next section. When you have finished the first circle, go back to the staring position, and repeat the procedure in a smaller circle.
Continue with the concentric circles until you have felt your entire breast and arrived at the nipple. Usually it takes 2 to 3 circles.
After that, feel the part of your breast which goes toward the armpit, as well as the armpit itself.
After a few self check-ups you will know what the normal firmness of your breasts is. In the lower part or at the base of the breast you will be able to feel a thicker skin which is normal – it is the tissue which holds the breast.
1. Feeling while standing – for instance while taking a shower
Lift your left arm, and using the method explained above, check your left breast with the print area of the fingers of your right hand. Repeat the procedure with the other side as well.
2. Lying down
Lie down comfortably on a hard flat surface with your head on a pillow. Lift your left arm above your head, and place a folded towel or small pillow under your left shoulder blade, and feel your breast with the print area of the fingers of your right hand. Repeat the procedure with the other side as well.
3. Checking your nipples
At the end of your self check-up, gently squeeze first one, then the other nipple to check if there is any secretion or minor bleeding.
If you discover any changes
See your doctor if you discover any of the following changes during your self check-up:
And if you are over 40 years old…
Ask your doctor to give you a mammography.
Breast cancer is a growth in the breast which develops by increased and uncontrolled reproduction of its cells.
Malignant tumors, or cancer, represent growths which spread to surrounding tissues and organs. By the blood system or the lymph nodes, they can spread even to distant parts of the body and create new growths – metasthasis.
Benign tumors are growths that do not spread to surrounding tissues and distant body parts. They are not life-threatening, and once removed, they do not reappear.
Who is in danger of getting breast cancer?
Every woman can get breast cancer, although the risk increases with age. Even though a woman can get breast cancer at a younger age, the risk increases significantly after 40. Some factors can increase the risk of breast cancer; however, most women who have breast cancer do not have any of the known risk factors.
Which are the factors that increase the risk of breast cancer?
The risk of breast cancer exists for every woman, but some factors can increase the risk above average.
• Breast cancer or other malignant illnesses in family members (ovarian cancer, colon cancer, etc). The risk is increased if the person in question is a close family member (mother, sister,etc.) or if they had the illness at an early stage in their life
The hereditary factor is responsible for 5-10% of breast cancer cases
• Previous breast cancer – a woman who had breast cancer has a higher risk of getting the illness again in the other, or even the same breast (unless it has been removed).
• Hormonal factors – such as the use of hormone drugs, first birth after 30, not giving birth or not breast feeding are linked to a moderate increase of risk.
What can you do?
Regular check-ups are the best way to stay healthy. They ensure the illness will be discovered in the early stages when treatment is much simpler and very successful.
A malignant tumor that is discovered and treated on time gives a greater chance of complete recovery.
Which check-up is recommended?
Over 30 years old: regular self check-ups
Over 40 years old: yearly clinical breast check-up by a doctor
Between 40 and 50 years old to begin with a mammography every 2 years until the age of 70.
What is a mammography?
A mammography is an x-ray filming of the breast by specially designed equipment.
Contemporary equipment has extremely low levels of radiation which are not harmful.
A mammography lasts about 10 minutes.
Why is a mammography significant?
A mammography is the only way to discover changes or growths in the breast which can not yet be felt by hand or discovered in other types of check-ups.
What is screening?
Screening represents a program organized by the health services or some other organization in which all women of a certain age are called for regular mammography check-ups. At one point, we had a similar program in our country for discovering tuberculosis.
In developed countries, national screening programs for breast cancer have been organized for several decades. Since such a program still does not exist in our country, it is all the more important that you decide on having the necessary check-ups.
If you notice any kind of changes on your breast...
...such as a knot, a newly developed change in the shape or size of your breast, changes to the skin of your breast, the withdrawal of your nipple, the appearance of a secretion from your nipple, contact your doctor. In the majority of cases, it is not a case of breast cancer but other types of breast illness such as displasia, inflammation, cists, benign tumors, etc. However, it is always the oncologist who must give the real diagnosis.
Self-check up
Why a self check-up is importantOnly 10 minutes a month are necessary for you to check whether your breasts are healthy.
With regular self check-ups, you will learn very quickly to recognize the normal structure of your breasts and learn to notice any newly developed changes in them.
Most of the changes discovered in the breasts are not cancer, but rather other types of breast illness such as displasia, inflammation, cists, benign tumors, etc. If it happens to be breast cancer, the treatment can be started on time, and chances of complete recovery are very high.
How to perform a self check-up?
Every woman above 30 should perform a self check-up once a month.
The best time to do this is just after menstruation, for example, on the 7th day of the cycle; women who no longer have a cycle can do the self check-up every first in the month.
A self check-up involves scrutinizing and feeling your breasts in front of a mirror.
In front of a mirror
1. Hands next to the body
Undress to the waist and stand in front of a mirror with your arms relaxed by your sides.
Carefully scrutinize your breasts and pay attention to the following:
- A change in the size or shape of your breasts, or an asymmetry between the two (keep in mind that breasts are never completely the same, neither by shape nor size; once you get to know your breasts, you will be able to look for changes during the check-up)
- Changes on the surface of your breasts, such as swelling, indentation, change of skin color
- Newly developed recession of a nipple
Stand in front of the mirror with your hands on your hips and look at your breasts. Push hard with your hands on your hips so that you will tighten the muscles of your ribcage and pay attention to see if you can notice any changes.
3. Hands above your head
Stand in front of the mirror and slowly lift one arm at a time upwards, searching for any of the above-mentioned changes.
Touching
The feeling is done with the print area of your finger and not the tip of the finger. The fingers should be stretched out and pressed together, but not too hard. To feel your right breast, use your left hand, and vice versa.
Start from the periphery or the part of the breast closest to the collar bone. Press gently on the breast, and with small circular movements, check if there is a little knot, or an indentation, then move on to the next section. When you have finished the first circle, go back to the staring position, and repeat the procedure in a smaller circle.
Continue with the concentric circles until you have felt your entire breast and arrived at the nipple. Usually it takes 2 to 3 circles.
After that, feel the part of your breast which goes toward the armpit, as well as the armpit itself.
After a few self check-ups you will know what the normal firmness of your breasts is. In the lower part or at the base of the breast you will be able to feel a thicker skin which is normal – it is the tissue which holds the breast.
1. Feeling while standing – for instance while taking a shower
Lift your left arm, and using the method explained above, check your left breast with the print area of the fingers of your right hand. Repeat the procedure with the other side as well.
2. Lying down
Lie down comfortably on a hard flat surface with your head on a pillow. Lift your left arm above your head, and place a folded towel or small pillow under your left shoulder blade, and feel your breast with the print area of the fingers of your right hand. Repeat the procedure with the other side as well.
3. Checking your nipples
At the end of your self check-up, gently squeeze first one, then the other nipple to check if there is any secretion or minor bleeding.
If you discover any changes
See your doctor if you discover any of the following changes during your self check-up:
- Newly developed changes in the size and shape of your breasts, asymmetry
- Newly developed indentation of the breast
- Swelling, redness or crimpling of the skin
- Secretion or bleeding from the nipple
- A knot in your breast
- An enlargement or swelling of the lymph tissues in your armpit
And if you are over 40 years old…
Ask your doctor to give you a mammography.