Why?
The American Cancer Society recommends that all women over the age of 20 examine their breasts once a month. By examining your breasts regularly, you will know how your breasts normally feel. If a change should happen in your breasts, you will be able to identify it and let your doctor know. Most lumps are found by women themselves. If you find any lumps, thickenings or changes, tell your doctor right away. Remember, most breast lumps are not cancerous, but you don't know if you don't ask. Breast cancer may be successfully treated if you find it and treat it early. Delaying the diagnosis of breast cancer does not change the diagnosis, it only worsens the outcome...for more information, please visit the American Cancer Society by using the link below.
~Copyright 2003 © American Cancer Society, Inc.~
*The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient/site visitor and his/her existing physician.*
|
|
Rush University Medical Center
Just a note... Woman to Woman
Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. The key? Early detection.
Click link above to learn or perfect your BSE technique and skills.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Step by Step Directions
Lie down and place your right arm behind your head.
Use the finger pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping dime-sized circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast tissue.
Use three different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin; medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. If you’re not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse. Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.
Move around the breast in an up-and-down pattern, starting at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone. Be sure to check the entire breast area, going down until you feel only ribs and up to the neck or collar bone.
Repeat the exam on your left breast, using the finger pads of the right hand.
While standing in front of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour or dimpling.
Examine each underarm while sitting up or standing and with your arm only slightly raised so you can easily feel in this area.
**Remember, if you find any changes, see your doctor right away.
For more information, please visit Rush University Medical Center by using the link located above.
|
|
 |
|
The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool was developed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) to assist health care providers in discussing breast cancer risk and tamoxifen with their female patients. The tool allows one to project a woman's individual estimate of breast cancer risk over a 5-year period of time and over her lifetime. It also compares the woman's risk calculation with the average risk for a woman of the same age. Information about the risks and benefits of taking tamoxifen are included. This version of the risk tool enables a health care provider to print the results of a woman's risk calculation directly from the Internet.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You should do a Breast Self-Exam (BSE) every month 2 or 3 days after your period. If you do not have regular periods, just do it the same day every month...like the first... or the tenth...or the day that matches your birthday. (Note: just before your period or during pregnancy, your breasts may be somewhat lumpy or more tender.) If you are taking hormones, talk with your doctor about when to do BSE.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Breast Cancer Facts... October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in women. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 40,800 women in the U.S. will die of breast cancer in the year 2000, and 182,800 new cases will be diagnosed. Breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women. However, there is some encouraging news. More and more, breast cancer is being detected early through mammography screening. Currently, two-thirds of newly diagnosed breast cancers show no signs that the cancer has spread beyond a woman’s breast. Studies done over the past 30 years clearly show that regular mammography screening significantly reduces the death rate from breast cancer in women over the age of 50. Recent results show that regular mammography screening also reduces death rates from breast cancer in women who begin screening in their forties.
Remind your friends and loved ones to get a mammogram today! For more information on breast cancer please visit the Cancer.Org web site by using the link below.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*The information provided on this site is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient and his/her personal physician.*
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
You don't know if you don't ask!
|
*Disclaimer: The text presented on this site is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice. It may not represent your true individual medical situation. Do not use this information to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease without consulting a qualified healthcare provider. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns.*
|
|
