Breast Self-Examination
BSE takes just a few minutes each month. As you do your examination, please remember that your goal is to become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel. Keep in mind also the normal shape of your breasts. It is best to perform your exam about seven to ten days after the first day of your period, when your breasts are least tender.
Mammography
A mammogram can show many cancers before they are felt. A regular mammogram is important even if you or your medical professional do not feel anything abnormal when examining your breast.
Yearly mammogram are recommended starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.
Clinical Breast Exam
A clinical breast exam should be part of your routine checkup. Beginning at age 20 women should have a clinical breast exam every 2 to 3 years. Women age 40 and older should have one every year.
Signs and Symptoms
*Nipple retraction *Discharge from the nipple, bleeding from the nipple*lump or thickening of the breast, dimpling or puckering of the skin, swelling, redness, heat, itching, burning, erosion or pain in breast, scaly skin on or around the nipple, ulcers in the skin, enlarged axillary lymph nodes, change in skin color or texture and orange peel appearance to the breast are some of the more common signs and symptoms of breast cancer.
Did you Know That Not All Tumors are Cancerous?
A tumor can be benign (not dangerous to health) or malignant (has the potential to be dangerous). Benign tumors are not considered cancerous: their cells are close to normal in appearance, they grow slowly, and they do not invade nearby tissues or spread to other parts of the body. Malignant tumors are cancerous.