Breast Care: Simple Self Examination Steps

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The latest study report on breast cancer states that one in twenty-eight Indian Women is likely to develop the breast cancer during her lifetime.

Breast Cancer occurs in the epithelium(lining cells of the ducts) 85% or in the lobules 15%(glandular tissue of the breasts). Initially, the cancerous growth is confined into the duct or lobule where it generally causes no symptoms or has fewer chances of spreading.

Regular self-examination of breasts can help early detection of abnormalities and thus makes the treatment easier. Though all the lumps and abnormalities do not develop into breast cancers still one should report any changes to the doctor.

What is Self-examination of breasts?

A breast self-exam is a method of checking the breasts through manual or visual inspection to detect any abnormalities, irritation, changes in size, or discoloration of breasts that can potentially lead to breast cancer.

Every woman should perform a self-check of breasts once a month. The menstruating woman can perform the exam after periods. This is considered a good time as the breasts are not tender and lumpy at this time of the monthly cycle. The ones who have stopped menstruating or have irregular periods can pick a particular day of the month to do the self-exam. It can be the start of the month, end of the month, or simply any date that can be easily remembered.

A breast self-exam is an easy procedure and it hardly takes a few minutes and thus can be done while undressing at night, taking a shower, or lying in bed.

How to perform the exam?

There are a couple of easy ways to self-examine the breasts – Visual inspection and Manual inspection.

Visual Breast Examination

With your clothes and bra removed stand in front of the mirror. Stand straight with both your arms down now closely look for any visible changes in the size of the breast, discoloration of nipples, breast swelling, or dimpling

Secondly, raise your arms high overhead and detect a similar change.

Third, Place both the hands on your hips and press firmly until the chest muscles flex. Look for similar changes again in both the breasts.

Manual Breast Examination

Manual inspection is a comparatively effective way to conduct self-check. With your clothes and bra removed use your right hand to check your left breast and vice versa. Use the pads of your three fingers to press on every part of one breast changes the pressure from the light, medium to firm. Feel any thick spots, lumps, and other changes. Move your fingers clockwise around the breast now gently press the tissue under the arms to look for any changes there. After this squeeze, the nipples gently check the discharge and notice any discoloration around them.

Repeat the same steps for another breast.

When to see a doctor?

Post conducting the self-examination of breasts if you notice any of the below-mentioned changes immediately report to your doctor –

Changes in look, size, and color of the breasts

Changes in look, size, and color of the nipples.

Dark-colored patches around the breasts or nipples.

Thick spot, hard knot, or lump on breast tissue.

Pain in some parts of the breast tissue.

Rashes on nipples or breasts

Swelling on one or both the breasts.

Inward pulling of the nipple or other areas.

A regular monthly self-examination of breasts can detect any possible problem at an early stage and thus makes the treatment easier and effective. Though self-examinations are important, these should not replace screening tests such as ultrasounds and mammograms recommended by doctors. Also, regular visits to the gynecologist is always a good practice.

Also Read: How these Celebrities Braved Breast Cancer

To read more on women’s health, click here.

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Did you know, women account for 93% of all sterilizations? And the use of condoms declined to 52% over 8 years, while vasectomies fell by 73%? It is funny to know that when it takes both men and women to have a baby then why men are not more involved when it comes down to contraception or birth control methods.

There are several reasons why a man should be more involved in reproductive health decision making. The first one is that when his partner gets pregnant, he is equally responsible for it, and it comes with many paternal obligations and responsibilities.

Another reason is the culture. It is still considered to be a women’s job to look after the kids and also the family planning. Educating men is very crucial to prevent unintended pregnancies and improve reproductive health.

India’s family planning campaigns, sexual health clinics have traditionally been focused on women.

Three in eight men believe that ‘contraception is women’s business and that men should not have to worry about it.’

contraceptives — Various contraception methods

There are limited campaigns and contraceptive options for men and this hampers the system even more. Most methods of modern contraception are for women while there are only two methods for men- Vasectomy and Condoms which are underpromoted.

But the science of male birth control is tricky too. Researchers are after a lot of ideal male pill but some pills have the potential for several major side effects but work continues. So far, most tries at this time have been injectables.

A large study of an injectable hormone combination showed promise in 2016. Even with some side effects, 75% of those interviewed after the study said that they would use it again.

But a safe, effective male birth control pill is still in making. Most men and women say that man should play more of a role in choosing and using contraceptives.

It is both partners’ responsibility to ensure that you have safer sex and use contraception to prevent both unplanned pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases.

Young men need to be convinced that male contraception is safer and simpler than female sterilization. While scientists are busy working on the male pill, men can still be proactive about reproductive health.

Young boys should be taught about these methods in sex education at school and targetted mass media campaigns featuring public figures and celebrities should be deployed.

Websites devoted to birth control and contraception, as well as other reference books available in bookstores can also play a role in educating men about their birth control.

And of course, there is always communication to discuss and talk about reproductive health to your partners about it.