Breast cancer can sneak up on you if you’re not careful. If you avoid touching your breasts and don’t pay much attention to them, you may not notice the warning signs or symptoms that would allow you to catch cancer in the early stages.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and expert OB/GYN and women's health provider, Dr. Leonardo A. Longoria, and our team at Longoria OBGYN in El Paso, Texas, are here to remind you about the importance of breast self-awareness and breast self-exams. When you know your body, you can take active steps to protect your health.
The first signs of breast cancer are often changes and abnormalities in your breasts. Doing a self-exam every month allows you to familiarize yourself with how your breasts normally feel, and also helps you catch changes within weeks of them appearing.
The tissue in your breasts responds to shifts in your hormones, so if you’re menstruating, time your breast self-exams for a few days after the end of your period. That way, you maintain a consistent baseline. Post-menopausal women should pick a day of the month for regular breast self-exams and stick with it.
Start your self-exam in the shower. Using the pads on your middle three fingers, feel all the way around your breasts and up into your armpits. Use firm, medium, and light pressure for a comprehensive self-exam.
Then, move to an area in front of a mirror to visually check your breasts. Look carefully at the tops, bottoms, and sides of both your breasts.
See if you can detect any changes in their overall shape, or if you notice swelling, dimpling, skin changes, or any abnormalities in your nipples. Flex your chest muscles to see if that makes any issues visible.
Finally, complete your monthly breast self-exam lying down. This allows your breast tissue to spread out. Starting on your right side, support your shoulder with a pillow.
Place your right arm behind your head, and use your left hand to examine your right breast, again using the pads on your three middle fingers. Feel the entire area around your breast, including your armpit and nipple. Use firm, medium, and light pressure. To complete your check, switch sides and use your right hand to examine your left breast.
If you discover anything, like an unfamiliar lump or knot, a sore spot, unexpected discharge from your nipples, or differences in your skin, during a breast self-exam, contact Dr. Longoria right away for assessment and evaluation.
Often, lumps in your breasts are benign and not a cause for medical concern. However, because it’s so beneficial to detect breast cancer in the early stages, you should get any potential signs or symptoms checked out by a medical professional as soon as possible.
In addition to regular breast self-exams, plan on regular mammograms and clinical breast exams as part of your well-woman care through Longoria OBGYN. Together, we can reduce your risks of breast cancer and increase your chances of early detection.
For support with breast cancer prevention and breast self-exams, contact Longoria OBYGN today. Schedule a consultation by calling our office or booking online.
