Breast Cancer Awareness and Breast Self Exam

Being breast aware can help you find breast cancer as early as possible. Early detection and timely consultation with your GP will increase the possibility of successful treatment and will boost up your chances of survival. The important thing is to know how to be 'breast aware'. Doctors recommend that women of all ages (breast cancer is uncommon in young women) should be aware of the normal appearance and texture of their breasts. There is no set way to familiarize yourself with your breasts. You can decide which way you are comfortable with and when it's convenient for you. Feeling and looking for abnormalities in your own breasts is called 'Breast Self Exam.'
NHS recommends the following five-point breast awareness code to be observed while performing breast self exam:

• Know what's normal for you.
• Look and feel your breasts.
• Know what changes to look for.
• Report any changes to your GP without delay.
• Attend routine breast screening if you are 50 or above.

It is also important to know what is unusual and malignant so that you can contact your health care specialist. It includes:

• A change in the size and shape of one or both of your breasts.
• A change in the skin of one or both of your breasts such as dimpling or puckering.
• Changes in the appearance of your nipple, particularly if it turns in, sinks into the breast or becomes irregular in shape.
• Unusual blood stained discharge from the nipple or a rash on the nipple or the surrounding area.
• Pain in part of your breast or armpit that lasts longer.
• Swelling, thickening or a lump in your breasts or armpit.

Performing your regular breast self exam will surely make you confident and satisfied with your health. Most of the women, though aware of the benefits of breast awareness, don't do self exams due to lack of time or lack of confidence as they think they don't know what to look for. There are others who are afraid of discovering a lump or abnormality and the supposedly cancer in their breasts, and yet some others who are not sure about their tactile sensitivity.
Studies show that nine out of 10 lumps are benign. It means that they are not cancerous. But all of these thickenings need to be checked by your GP as there is a small chance that they might be the first sign of cancer. If you do have breast cancer, treatment is usually simpler and more successful, provided that it's found early. So identifying lumps and other shadowy areas in your breasts and armpits is of vital interest. The most prescribed and easy way to make these lumps less frightening for you is to carry out your monthly breast self exam in order to know what your breasts normally feel like.