WOMEN’S BODIES: BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION (BSE)

By examining your breasts regularly you increase your chances of noticing any change that should be examined by your doctor to rule out breast cancer.

Your doctor or nurse will teach you how to examine your breasts and provide you with an illustrated pamphlet describing the technique. These pamphlets are also available from women’s health centers, family planning centers, baby health centers, community nurses and many other public health outlets.

You should start BSE around the age of 20 years. It is best done about a week after your period starts, when there are least hormonal changes in the breasts. After the menopause, it could be done on the 1st of each month or, if you’re using HRT, before you start the progestogen supplement. With regular practice, you’ll get to know the normal feeling of your breasts and be able to recognize any change. This is what you’re looking for during BSE – something that wasn’t there last time: a lump; any area that feels thicker than surrounding tissue; any change in breast size or shape; nipple discharge; roughening of nipple skin; turning in of a nipple that previously turned out; puckering, dimpling, redness or any other change in the skin of the breast.

What if you find something?

Imagine you’re examining your breasts. Suddenly your heart skips a beat. You cautiously feel your breast again. Is that a lump? You nervously prod around the suspicious spot. You’re not sure. You compare it with the same spot on the other breast. Yes, there’s definitely something different. It wasn’t there when you checked your breasts last month. Could it be cancer? You break out into a cold sweat!

Try not to panic. Even if you’re in the highest risk age group for breast cancer (over 50), more than eight times out of ten the lump will be benign. The chances that any lump or change will be cancer are:

• just about nil if you’re under 25

• 1 in 100 if you’re 25-34 years

• 4 in 100 if you’re 35-49 years

• 11 in 100 if you’re over 50 years.

Arrange to see your doctor, who will refer you for further investigation to a diagnostic breast clinic or to a surgeon who specializes in investigating breast disorders.

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