Keep Your Breast Health In Check
The incidence of breast cancer among South African women is increasing and it is one of the most common cancers among women in South Africa. It is the most prevalent cancer amongst white and Asian women and the second most common cancer among black and coloured women.
Facts about breast cancer
- Early detection of the condition can lead to effective treatment and a positive prognosis.
- About 90% of patients survive for many years after diagnosis when breast cancer is detected at the early stages
- Regular self-breast examination and regular mammograms are key to early detection
- Presenting yourself early for treatment may result in more effective treatment, leading to a reduction in pain and suffering and a significant decrease in the loss of life
When breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms.
Symptoms and Signs
Many breast cancer symptoms are invisible and not noticeable without a professional screening, but some symptoms can be caught early just by being proactive about your breast health.
Breast Pain
Breast pain is any discomfort, tenderness, or pain in the breast or underarm region, and it may occur for a number of reasons. Breast pain usually isn’t a sign of breast cancer.
Breast Cyst
A cyst in the breast may feel like a lump, but upon examination the lump is a small, generally harmless sac filled with fluid rather than a cancerous or benign lump of cells. You may have one cyst or many cysts that appear together.
Breast Self-Exam
Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month. Johns Hopkins Medical center states, “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”
Clinical Breast Exam
A clinical breast exam is performed by a healthcare professional who is trained to recognize many different types of abnormalities and warning signs. This in-office exam will most likely be completed by your family physician or gynecologist at your annual exam, whereas your breast self-exam is something every woman should do at once at month at home.
Mammogram
A mammogram is an x-ray that allows a qualified specialist to examine the breast tissue for any suspicious areas. The breast is exposed to a small dose of ionizing radiation that produces an image of the breast tissue.
If you’re not aware of your breast health, important changes in your breasts can be easy to miss. Visit our site and get your free eBook, Breast Problems That Aren’t Breast Cancer, to learn about the most common non-cancerous breast problems, like breast pain, you should know about.
For more visit: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/