Breast cancer prevention starts with breast self-examination and breast cancer screening
On January 15, Yao Beina, a singer suffering from breast cancer, was confirmed to be admitted to the ICU. The dreaded term “breast cancer” jumped into the public eye once again. What should we do to protect ourselves from this demon that lurks in the shadows and devours women’s health? Do you want to be like Queen Angelina Jolie and have your entire breast removed? Breast self-examination and breast cancer screening will probably help women to detect the disease as early as possible and reduce the possibility of their lives being swallowed up.
The specific methods of ” breast self-examination”
Observe the appearance of the breast, such as whether there is any abnormal discharge from the nipple, whether there is any abnormal change in the size and nature of the breast, and whether there is any abnormal change in the skin of the breast (such as orange peel-like change). The touching technique is shown in the figure, mainly to feel the texture of the breast and whether any hard lumps appear. Lie flat on your back, lift your arm on the side to be examined, and use your index finger, ring finger and middle finger on the other side to touch up and down, up and down, in the breast area in small increments to see if any lumps exist.
It is better to feel standing up than lying down!
For those who don’t have much “practical experience”, my advice is: it’s definitely better to “stand than lie down”.
The reason is this: due to gravity, when we stand, breast tissue is relatively concentrated in the lower part, overlapping glands appear particularly thick, small lumps are easy to hide; and lying down, breast tissue is relatively flat, the thickness is not affected by gravity. This makes it easier to check for meaningful lumps on hand inspection.
How do I know what I am feeling?
What if I just know how to feel, but I don’t know what I am feeling? Don’t worry, I’ll teach you the simple and easy way.
”Lips”
Normal breast tissue is soft and loose, and feels like your lips to the touch.
”Nose
Lobular hyperplasia tissue feels like the tip of your nose, a little tough but very elastic – except for beauties with cosmetic nose jobs.
”Forehead”
The most dreaded lump of breast cancer feels like your forehead, hard to the touch and not easy to push.
If you are still not sure, get it checked by an experienced breast specialist as soon as possible. Don’t forget to check the nipple areola area! Remember to squeeze the nipple at the end to observe if there is any overflow, and remember to see which hole is the case. If you are coming to the clinic the next day, remember not to squeeze too much, as the doctor will not be able to determine the nature and extent of the overflow if all the water is squeezed out. Breast Cancer Screening It is important to note that self-examination of the breast is not a good way to detect breast cancer at an early stage. In many cases, the abnormalities found by self-examination are not related to breast cancer, and it is not a substitute for other screening methods.
All you have to do about self-examination is to go to the hospital as early as possible for further examination if you find abnormalities. China accounts for 12.2% of new breast cancer cases and 9.6% of deaths worldwide each year. Breast cancer is also the most prevalent cancer among Chinese women, but the death rate of breast cancer is decreasing year by year and it is a relatively well-treated cancer.
How can breast cancer be screened?
The American Cancer Society recommends that
1. Women over 40 years old should have a mammogram once a year.
2. women at “high risk” (see below), regardless of age, need an annual breast MRI. 3. women between the ages of 20 and 39 should have a breast exam by a breast specialist every 3 years, including observation and palpation of the outside of the breast; women over 40 should have a breast exam by a breast specialist every year. 4. women over 20 can have their breasts examined by observation and palpation themselves. “High risk” includes: a lifetime risk of breast cancer greater than 20% according to professional risk calculations; genetic testing reveals BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations (e.g. Angelina Jolie); BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene mutations in parents, children, siblings; breast radiation treatment between the ages of 10 and 30, etc. You should consult a breast specialist to determine if you are at high risk.
” Dispelling Rumors “
Rumor 1: Bra is related to the occurrence of breast cancer
The “bra cancer theory” suggests that bras with steel supports prevent the flow of lymphatic fluid to the underarm area, where breast bacteria and other wastes are usually removed, and breast cancer occurs. The 1991 study on breast cancer in women who wore bras did conclude that women who did not wear bras had fewer breast cancers, but this number was not statistically significant enough to support the hypothesis that “breast cancer is associated with bra wearing”. Now, after the verification of modern evidence-based medicine, the two actually have nothing to do with each other.
Rumor 2: Lobular hyperplasia = breast cancer
There are many patients who seek medical consultation because they are afraid that lobular hyperplasia will become breast cancer, and they think that the heavier the hyperplasia is, the more likely it is to get cancer. Since then, they live under the psychological shadow of this misconception and are in a state of fear every day, which seriously affects their quality of life. In fact, lobular hyperplasia is a common disease, just like the common cold. Clinically, 95% of lobular hyperplasia is “simple lobular hyperplasia”, which is not cancerous; and the corresponding “atypical hyperplasia” is not necessarily cancerous in all cases in the future. As for why women have “lobular hyperplasia”, it has a lot to do with emotions, diet, endocrine and other factors. There is no need to be nervous about lobular hyperplasia, but regular checkups and treatment as needed are sufficient.
As mentioned above, although breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women in China, the treatment outcome is relatively good. It is important to be screened and self-examined, and to go to a breast specialist or general surgery department of a regular hospital in time if problems are found. Early detection, early consultation and early treatment, and no superstitious belief in “partial prescriptions”, breast cancer is not that scary.