Breast Health
Breast cancer affects everyone. While the highest incidence is among women over 50, breast cancer can affect women of all ages as well as men. Understanding what to look for can help with early detection.
FEMALES – It’s important to become familiar with your breasts so that you can more easily notice any changes. Remember, however, that everyone’s breast tissue has its own unique texture. It’s normal to have lumps and bumps. Also, breasts change in shape and size depending on the stage of the menstrual cycle. Doing regular breast self-exams (BSEs) can help you distinguish between normal variation and changes that may be cause for concern. Here are some BSE tips for females:
* Perform a BSE each month, two or three days after your period.
* If your period is irregular, do it around the same day each month.
* With your hands on your hips, look in the mirror for any changes in size, shape, or texture of your breasts. Some things to look for are lumps, dimples, an inverted nipple, veins close to the skin, scaliness, puckering, or discoloration.
* Gently squeeze the nipple to check for abnormal discharge.
* Check both breasts for changes such as thickening, a lump or hard tissue.
* Regardless of your findings, have your health provider conduct an annual breast exam.
For more information and suggestions, including positions check out the Women’s Health website for a Breast Self-Exam Fact Sheet.
MALES – While females are 100 times more likely to get breast cancer than males, this shouldn’t stop us from talking about breast cancer in males. Self detection methods in men are slightly different than those in women. For males, as with females, the most common symptom is a lump in the breast tissue. Other signs are often visual, so it’s important to be aware of any changes. Look out for:
* Skin dimpling
* Changes in the nipple (i.e. new indentation)
* Changes in the nipple or breast skin, such as scaling or redness
* Nipple discharge
In general, the more aware you are, the earlier you can detect the symptoms, and therefore the more treatment options you’ll have.