Know your Breast

October is Breast Cancer awareness month as we all know. When we should take the time to increase awareness of this disease if we are concerned friends, family, survivors or just want to do something or know more about this disease. Even though we all may know something about Breast Cancer many must go further to take steps to detect the disease at an early stage Men as well as Women. Many people do not realize that men have breast tissue and that they can develop breast cancer also.

Lets start with the men in our lives:
Gynecomastia is the most common male breast disorder. It is not a tumor but rather an increase in the amount of a man's breast tissue. Usually, men have too little breast tissue to be felt or noticed. Gynecomastia can appear as a button-like or disk-like growth under the nipple and areola, which can be felt and sometimes seen. Some men have more severe gynecomastia and they may appear to have small breasts. Although gynecomastia is much more common than breast cancer in men, both can be felt as a growth under the nipple, which is why it's important to have any such lumps checked by your doctor. Male breast cancer is a rare condition, accounting for only about 1% of all breast cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2010, about 1,970 new cases of breast cancer in men would be diagnosed and that breast cancer would cause approximately 390 deaths in men compared to almost 40,000 women dieing of breast cancer each year.
MEN IF YOU HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS..SEE A DOCTOR:

• A painless lump or thickening in your breast tissue
• Changes to the skin covering your breast, such as dimpling, puckering, redness or scaling
• Nipple changes such as redness or scaling, or a nipple that begins to turn inward
• Discharge from your nipple

 
Now to the women:
Breast cancer affects 1 in 8 women during their lives. A breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts from cells of the breast. Malignat tumors (Note: Not all tumors are cancerous) are groups of cancer cells that may grow in or invade surrounding tissues or spread to distant areas of the body. Common types of breast cancers are:
Ductal carcinoma – Cancer that begins in the ducts and grows into surrounding tissues. About 8 in 10 breast cancers are this type.
Lobular carcinoma – Cancer that begins in lobules and grows into surrounding tissues. About 1 in 10 breast cancers are this type.

Remember that most breast changes are not cancer. For example if there is nipple discharge this can also occur from using birth control pills, some medicines, and infections. Or, a breast lump could be a cyst, which is a fluid-filled lump that is not cancer. (NOTE:) Early breast cancer usually does not cause pain. Still, if you notice a change in your breast or pain, call your doctor and schedule a visit. DON'T wait until your next checkup

 WOMEN IF YOU HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS..SEE A DOCTOR:
 

• A lump in or near your breast or under your arm
• Thick or firm tissue in or near your breast or under your arm
• A change in the size or shape of your breast
• Nipple discharge (not breast milk)
• Nipple changes, such as a nipple that turns inward (inverted) into the breast
• Changes to your breast skin, areola or nipple, such as itching, redness, scaling, dimpling, or puckering

Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month. Yes mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, but breast self-exams will help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your doctor if there are any changes. You can use these techniques to help with your self exam.

1.)Lying Down
When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit.
Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat for your left breast.

2.)In the Shower
Using the pads of your fingers, move around your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside to the center, checking the entire breast and armpit area. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Notice any changes and get lumps evaluated by your doctor.


3.)In Front of a Mirror
Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead.
Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling, or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women's breasts do, so look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes, particularly on one side.
Take a look at the diagrams below to see the ways in which you can perform a self exam of your breast. Take Charge It is very important that we all know if there is any changes in our breast, visit the doctor if any and continue with the self exam. Above all Early detection and keeping your doctor updated is key my wonderful people.