In the UK and North America, breast cancer is one of the most common forms of cancer that can affect women. Breast cancer amounts for 30% of female cancers in the UK and approximately 1 in 9 women in the UK will get breast cancer at some point during their life.

The incidence of breast cancer increases with age and will then double every 10 years until the menopause. There are many factors which can affect the chances of contracting the disease, such as the age at which you had your first child, inherited risks, and lifestyle. What is vitally important is that a self-examination is carried out monthly, so that any abnormalities or concerns can be noticed early and hence reduce the risk of terminal cancer.

It is important that you are aware of your own body, how it looks and feels. If there is any change in your breasts, which includes the nipples, then you should make an appointment to speak to your local GP. Changes can include a discharge from your nipples, inverting of the nipple, dimpling of the breast, a visible lump or a lump can be detected by examining the breast, swelling of the lymph node, a pain in the breast or reddening of the skin.

Women should be carrying out self breast examinations by the time they reach 20 years of age and women should have a clinical breast exam every 3 years up until the age of 40, when the clinical examination should be carried out annually.

So how should a self examination be carried out? A self examination can be carried visually, which involves standing in front of the mirror with your arms hanging by your side and looking at your breasts for visual signs of change. Are your breasts showing signs of puckering, dimpling, changing in size and texture or are your nipples inverted. Try the same examination again with your hands on your hips and then with your arms raised and palms pressed together. Next you should lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder. Put your left hand behind your head and feel your left breast with the pads of the middle finger on your right hand. You should start at the outer edge of the breast and then begin to work around your breast in small circles, getting closer to your nipple with each circle. After you’ve finished checking your breast, squeeze your nipple gently and look for discharge. This method should then be repeated for the other breast. It is important to make sure that you check the area up to your collarbone and out to the armpit as this is the region where your lymph nodes are located.

If you have any doubts about what you are doing or if you have found a lump, it is recommended that you speak to your local Doctor. It is stated that around 80% of breast lumps are non-cancerous and more than 50% of women have a condition known as Fibrocystic breasts during their periods and menopause. These Fibrocystic breasts are lumpy, painful and tender, which may be caused by the hormone fluctuations during a menstrual period and menopause.


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Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/cancer-articles/the-importance-of-self-breast-examinations-in-detecting-breast-cancer-early-1699407.html
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