Cop A Feel For Your Health
By: Brite Moon
britemoon.rising@gmail.com
The Truth:
One minute, once a month could help save your life and the lives of those you
love. It really is that easy.
Breast cancer is not pretty, period. Those who are branded by cancer do not wear it like a badge of honor. It is cancer. Grueling and sometimes ugly, and often, more emotionally and physically draining than anything we could possibly think we may one day have to endure.
So why do we take the chance of becoming a breast cancer statistic by not
taking the time to take care of ourselves?
The Facts:
Breast Cancer is not gender specific. Although it is less common in men than in
women,
The American Cancer Society or the ACS, estimates that 1,990 new cases of
invasive breast cancer in men will be diagnosed in the United States in 2008.
They also suggest that in 2008, about 450 of those men will die from the same.
The statistics for women are much higher and growing at astonishing rates each year. This year alone there will be an estimated 1 in 8 women diagnosed with advanced or invasive breast cancer with a majority of the world’s cases being those of women who live in the United States. These numbers should be alarming for a curable and in some cases preventable disease.
With knowledge and know-how, these numbers could decrease. The earlier breast
cancer is detected, the higher your chances of a full recovery.
Early Detection/Prevention:
Below is a list of preventive measures recommended by the ACS to aid in the
early detection and prevention of breast cancer.
Clinical Breast Exam (CBE):
A clinical breast exam should be performed as part of your regular physical
examination at least once every three years for women in their 20’s and 30’s and
at least once a year for women in their 40’s.
Mammogram:
Mammograms are recommended for women 40 years of age and older and should be
completed once a year.
Breast Self-Exam (BSE):
The BSE should be performed the same time monthly and is recommended for men and
women of any age in which a person could be predisposed to getting breast
cancer.
Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your
shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here's what you should look for:
- Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
- Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:
- dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
- A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward
instead of sticking out)
- Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: While you're at the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple between
your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a milky or
yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side—from your collarbone
to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at
the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge
of the breast. You can also move your fingers u
p
and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. Be sure to feel all
the breast tissue: just beneath your skin with a soft touch and down deeper with
a firmer touch. Begin examining each area with a very soft touch, and then
increase pressure so that you can feel the deeper tissue, down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting.
Many
women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet
and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire
breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.
Life after cancer is much more of an effort at maintaining good health, whereby practicing preventive measures to avoid cancer and illness all together is so much easier. So what do you say, do you have a minute for your health?
For more information on breast cancer and how to aid in its prevention, please visit the websites below.
For a free copy of a Breast Self-Exam Instruction Guide please visit:
Susan G. Komen For The Cure