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How self-examination helps detect problems

Some of the common breast ailments can be identified early

Samudram has been a little worried for the past few days. She was talking to a neighbour and has found out that a common friend of theirs is in hospital undergoing treatment for breast cancer. Samudram is 52. Is there anything she can do to make sure that she does not have the disease?

One of the most important steps women can take to detect breast cancer early is to perform breast self-exam every month.

A breast self-exam is done to detect changes that could lead to breast cancer.

By doing routine breast self-exams, routine mammograms and checkups with a physician, breast problems can be detected early, when they are most likely to be treated successfully. Insist on a breast examination whenever you see your gynaecologist, especially if you are 40 years or older.

A breast self-exam is an important part of taking charge of your own health. Since you will be seeing your doctor only once in six months or a year, it is important to check your breasts every month.

Unfortunately, women keep forgetting or missing out on this very simple way of early detection of breast cancer.

There are two excuses women give to avoid doing a breast self-exam.

The commonest excuse given is, "I am sure I won't be able to find out if anything is wrong." By doing a monthly breast self-exam, a woman learns how her breasts feel. So when there is any change in the feel of the breast tissue, the difference can be recognised early. Ironically, the second reason that makes women hesitate is the fear of actually finding something! Remember, if there is a growth or lump, it is better to find it early instead of discovering it when it is too large.

All women should do the exam once a month. It is important to remember that this includes women who are pregnant, are breastfeeding, have gone through menopause and even women who have breast implants.

How to do it?

The examination is best done a few days after the period has stopped. If you are not having periods, a good way to remember is to do it on the first of every month.

Looking: Look in the mirror for any changes. With your arms first at your sides and then raised above your head, look for dimpling, puckering, or redness of the breast skin, discharge from the nipples, or changes in breast size or shape.

Feeling: This can be done lying flat on the back, standing, or when taking a bath. With the left arm raised, use the right hand, keeping the fingers flat and together, to gently feel the left breast without pressing too hard. Repeat on the other side. Examine the upper chest area and below the armpits also since these places have breast tissue. Use one of the three methods described.

Circle: Begin at the top of your breast and move your fingers slowly around the outside in a large circle. Then move your hand a little closer to the nipple and make a smaller circle. Do this in smaller and smaller circles until you have examined all of the breast tissue.

Lines: Begin in the underarm (armpit) area. Slowly move your fingers down until they are below your breast. Move your fingers closer toward your nipple and go slowly back up, using the same motion. Use this up-and-down pattern all the way across your breast.

Wedge: Begin at the outside edge of your breast. Slowly work your way in toward the nipple, doing one wedge-shaped section at a time. Do this until the entire breast area has been examined.

GITA ARJUN

(The author is a Chennai-based obstetrician and gynaecologist with a special interest in women's health issues)

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