Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

While this post is essentially for women, I also request men reading this to pass on this information to your spouse and other women close to you in your family. Please remember that cancer treatment is not only agonizing for the patient, but creates great trauma for the entire family as well. Atleast, if we can detect the symptoms early enough, we can be assured of a better cure.

In our hectic schedules and different roles we women play today as wife, mother, employee, etc, we often tend to forget to take care of ourselves. When we also happen to read about a disease somewhere, we  ignore it, thinking it will not happen to us, and often do not pay attention unless we ourselves or someone close to us are the victims.

Why do a Breast Self Examination? 
 
Breast Cancer is one such thing growing at an alarming rate in India as well.  There are several reasons for breast cancer to occur, but I will not go into that. Doctors assure of a better cure of breast cancer when found out early, which is why regular, monthly self examination is important. 

Breast self examination has been universally accepted by the experts as a very simple  and effective method of early detection of Breast cancer. Breast self examination does not cost anything except 10 to 15 minutes of your time once a month. By doing monthly breast self examinations, a women can learn what her breasts normally look and feel like, and there is a better chance of catching changes early. 

When to do a Breast Self Examination?

• Breast Self Examination is to be done monthly.
• It is best to check about a week after your period, when breasts are not swollen or tender.
• If you are not mensurating, examine yourself on the same day every month. 
  

What are the warning signs of Breast cancer?

• Pain in your breast that seems unrelated to your period
• Lump or thickening (breast, underarm)
• Dimpling or puckering of the skin.
• Bloody or spontaneous discharge from nipple.
• A sore on the breast that does not heal.
• Unusual pain Itch or rash, especially in nipple area.
• Retracted nipple(s).

A quick note of caution is warranted here. Not all breast lumps may prove malignant. Therefore presence of a breast lump should not create panic at the outset. Nevertheless, if you feel a lump in your breast, talk to your doctor to find out the cause.

How to do Breast Self-Examination? 

Please visit the following links on how to do Breast Self-Examination.

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp

http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp145.cfm

Here is an animation representation on Breast-Self Examination

http://www.medindia.net/animation/breast_self_examination.asp

By sharing this information, my hope is to increase awareness about the importance of monthly breast self examination. 

It is also to be noted that Ultrasound plus Mammography screening annually are significantly more efficient than Mammography alone in detecting early-stage breast cancer. 

Cheers!