lifeinmycubicle

Breast Cancer can be cured if it is detected early. Age is one of the risk factors for breast cancer. Our OB Gynecologist usually suggests routine breast screenings. There are three ways for early detection of breast cancer.

1. Clinical Breast Exam is usually done by your OB Gynecologist during your annual visit. This is when your ob-gyn checks your breasts for lumps and unusual changes. If you are in your 20s or 30s, Clinical Breast Exam is recommended every 3 years. After age 40, Clinical Breast Exam is recommended every 1 to 2 years.

2. Breast Self-Examination is another type of routine breast screening for early detection of breast cancer. It is recommended that we examine our breasts once a month. A few days after your period is a good time to perform a Breast Self-Examination as your breasts are less likely to be tender or sore. For women who have irregular periods, you can examine your breasts at any time of the month.

3. Mammogram is a breast X-ray that can see small breast tumors. Talk to your ob-gyn about when to start and how often to have mammogram screening. This usually depends on your age, family history of breast cancer and if you have had cancer in one breast.

My OB Gynecologist taught me how to perform breast self-examination. This is a way for us to know how our breasts normally look and feel like, making it easy to notice changes in our breasts. This is how I found a soft lump in my right breast.

Examine your breasts once a month. A few days after your period is a good time to perform a Breast Self-Examination as your breasts are less likely to be tender or sore. If you have irregular periods, you can examine your breasts at any time of the month.

To examine your right breast, lie down and put your right arm under your head and use your left hand to examine your breast. Use the pads of your three middle fingers (not only your fingertips) and sweep from your collarbone down to your nipple using a walking motion to feel for lumps. Make sure you work clockwise around the breast. Always sweep your fingers from the outside of your breast toward your nipple. Continue examining your breast in sweeping manner until you have completely examined your entire breast and underarm. Susan G. Komen Breast Self-Exam Instructional Tool and Mayo Clinic Breast Examination have good guidelines on breast self-examination.

To examine your left breast, put your left arm behind your head and use your right hand to examine your breast.

Some women prefer to do a Breast Self-Examination while standing in the shower. If our skin is wet and lathered with soap, it is easier to feel our breast tissue. Stand with left arm raised and put left hand behind your head. Feel your left breast with your right hand. Do the same with your right breast.