Early breast cancer detection is incredibly important so women should under no circumstances take breast examination for granted. As reported by the American Cancer Society, early breast cancer detection will greatly improve the chances of survival for the person. If you are one of those women with a history of breast cancer in the family, you really should have routine self examinations in addition to clinical exams while you're still in your 20s and 30s.
Breast Self Examination (BSE)
BSE is among the most basic strategies of monitoring important changes in the breast tissues. To examine changes in your breasts, stand before the mirror and check each breast for dimpling or discolorations three to five days after the last day of your menstrual period. Take note of any kind of suspicious looking discoloration and dimples that were not there when you previously screened yourself.
After undertaking an ocular examination of your breasts, make sure you conduct a physical examination. In order to get more accurate results, it's best to perform the self exam while you are lying down with your arm positioned at the back of your head. This placement allows the breast tissues to flatten and spread uniformly above your chest bones. To help detect lumps, methodically run the finger pads of 3 middle fingers of the hand over your breast. Apply various levels of pressure as you move your fingers in slow circular movements from the top of the breast down. Employ light pressure to feel lumps close to the skin surface and moderate to firm pressure to feel for lumps deep under the tissues.
If you feel any lumps or mass in your breasts while doing the self exam, don't panic. Even if you find lumps that does not mean that you have cancer. Keep in mind that not all lumps are cancerous so you should not jump to any conclusions. To know if the lumps are cancerous or otherwise, you'll want to go to your doctor and ask for a clinical exam immediately. Keep in mind that early breast cancer detection could save your life so see your doctor for some tests.
Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) and Mammogram
When you're in your thirties and forties, you'll want to have routine CBEs from health care professionals. In the CBE, your health care provider will evaluate your breasts for any indications of abnormalities through feeling the skin and tissues around this area. As you reach your forties, you will need to go through regular screening mammograms. If your doctor observes some abnormalities while in the exams, he or she may have you undergo additional tests to establish the nature of the problem. They might suggest biopsy of questionable lumps in the breast.
Breast Self Examination (BSE)
BSE is among the most basic strategies of monitoring important changes in the breast tissues. To examine changes in your breasts, stand before the mirror and check each breast for dimpling or discolorations three to five days after the last day of your menstrual period. Take note of any kind of suspicious looking discoloration and dimples that were not there when you previously screened yourself.
After undertaking an ocular examination of your breasts, make sure you conduct a physical examination. In order to get more accurate results, it's best to perform the self exam while you are lying down with your arm positioned at the back of your head. This placement allows the breast tissues to flatten and spread uniformly above your chest bones. To help detect lumps, methodically run the finger pads of 3 middle fingers of the hand over your breast. Apply various levels of pressure as you move your fingers in slow circular movements from the top of the breast down. Employ light pressure to feel lumps close to the skin surface and moderate to firm pressure to feel for lumps deep under the tissues.
If you feel any lumps or mass in your breasts while doing the self exam, don't panic. Even if you find lumps that does not mean that you have cancer. Keep in mind that not all lumps are cancerous so you should not jump to any conclusions. To know if the lumps are cancerous or otherwise, you'll want to go to your doctor and ask for a clinical exam immediately. Keep in mind that early breast cancer detection could save your life so see your doctor for some tests.
Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) and Mammogram
When you're in your thirties and forties, you'll want to have routine CBEs from health care professionals. In the CBE, your health care provider will evaluate your breasts for any indications of abnormalities through feeling the skin and tissues around this area. As you reach your forties, you will need to go through regular screening mammograms. If your doctor observes some abnormalities while in the exams, he or she may have you undergo additional tests to establish the nature of the problem. They might suggest biopsy of questionable lumps in the breast.
About the Author:
For more information on breast cancer detection please visit our website Treatments For Breast Cancer.