ALL ABOUT BREAST CANCER

Breast cancer is the 2^nd most common cancer among women in the United States. Each year in the United States, about 255.000 cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in women and about 2.300 men.

Early detection save lives.

About 42.000 woman and 500 men in the U.S. die each year from breast cancer. Breast cancer risk can be a combination of thing, most breast cancers are found in woman over 50 years old. Some factors you cannot change like family history, getting older, and having dense breasts.

How To breast cancer self-examination

Start with a visual examination

Stand shirtless and braless in front of a mirror with you arms at your sides.

·       Face forward and look for puckering, dimpling, or changes in size shape or symmetry.

·       Check to see if your nipples are inverted (turned in)

·       Inspect your breasts with your hands on your hips and again with your hands raised above your head

Then a physical examination.

During physical examination, check while laying down and again while standing

·       Use the pads of your fingers and not the tips

·       Use different pressure levels. Your goal is to feel different depths of the tissue

·       Follow a pattern and move slowly to different arcas.

Symptoms:

·       A hard lump or knot near your underarm

·       Dimples, puckers, bulges or ridges on your breast

·       A recent change in a nipple to be inverted

·       Bloody nipple discharge

·       Redness, warmth, swelling or pain

·       Itching, scales, sores or rashes

If you notice them tell your doctor straight away. Finding it early makes it more treatable and can save your life.

How to lower your risk and get checked:

·       Keep a healthy weight and exercise regularly

·       Avoid alcohol or limit consumption

·       If possible, breastfeed your children

·       Talk with your doctor about getting tested for the BRGA₁ and BRGA₂ genes

·       Doing self-examination and checking your own breasts every month

·       Getting a regular mammograms