How To Check For Breast Cancer

Do you know how to check your breasts for signs of breast cancer? We speak with Miss Salena Bains, consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon, at The Priory Hospital for expert advice on how best to check your breasts for lumps. Miss Bains answers some of your most commonly asked questions about how to safely look out for changes to your breasts, and what to do if you spot a change that doesn’t look or feel quite right. Immediate links: For more information about breast cancer and checking your breasts for lumps, browse: https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/treatments/breast-cancer-symptoms https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/health-matters/cancer-care/breast-cancer https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/treatments/mammography Why is it important to perform breast self-exams? Breast self-exams are a vital tool for the early detection of breast cancer. By examining your breasts regularly, you become familiar with their normal look and feel. This familiarity helps you to quickly identify any changes in your breasts. Once you find changes, you can visit your doctor so that they can perform a further examination of the symptoms you have found. In many cases, a change in your breast is not a sign of cancer. It can be a number of things – for example you might have found a benign cyst, or you may just have noticed variations in breast tissue that can change depending on where you are in your cycle. However, changes in your breasts are among the early signs of breast cancer, so it’s crucial to get them checked out. How often should I perform breast self-exams? It's recommended that you perform breast self-exams once a month. Choose a consistent time in your menstrual cycle so that you can understand how your breasts change throughout your cycle. If you have been through menopause, stick to the same date each month for consistency. If you want to check your breasts more regularly you can, but as your breasts can change significantly over the course of your menstrual cycle, we find once a month – at the same time – is the most effective. What is the best time during my menstrual cycle to perform a breast self-exam? If you are having periods, it's generally best to perform breast self-examination a few days after your period ends. During this time, your hormonal fluctuations are minimal, reducing breast tenderness and swelling that might interfere with the exam. Swelling can prevent you from feeling lumps properly, and also it can be sore to press your breasts when they are swollen and sensitive to the touch, which many people experience during their period. How do I check my breasts for changes? Follow these steps for a thorough self-exam: 1. Stand in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. Look for changes in size, shape, or skin texture 2. Raise your arms and examine your breasts again 3. Look for any signs of fluid discharge from the nipples 4. Lie down and use your opposite hand to feel your breast in circular motions. Cover the entire breast and armpit area 5. Stand or sit up and repeat the circular motions using varying levels of pressure What am I looking for during a breast self-exam? During your self-exam, there are several signs and symptoms you should be on the lookout for, which are: - New lumps or masses in either your breasts or armpits - Thickening or swelling of part of your breast - Changes in breast size or shape - Skin changes, such as dimpling, redness, or scaling - Nipple changes, including discharge or inversion - Changes in the colour of your nipples - Pain or discomfort in your breasts with no obvious cause (pain is not a worrying symptom) What should I do if I find a lump or notice a change? When you self-examine your breasts, if you find a lump or notice any changes, don’t panic. Most breast lumps are benign. But it’s vital that you consult a healthcare professional – for example you could contact your GP, or you could visit one of our breast clinics where we offer rapid access to women experiencing symptoms. There you’ll be given a professional evaluation, and if necessary, sent for further tests such as a mammogram or ultrasound. These can help determine whether a lump is benign. Your doctor might also arrange for you to have a biopsy. During this, your doctor will take a small piece of tissue (a biopsy) to be looked at under a microscope. The tissue will be examined for unusual cells that could indicate cancer. You might experience some discomfort and swelling after having a biopsy, but the procedure isn’t too painful, as local anaesthetic is used. Further Links –  Miss Salena Bains is a consultant oncoplastic breast surgeon at The Priory Hospital: https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/hospitals/the-priory-hospital https://www.circlehealthgroup.co.uk/consultants/salena-bains Hashtags - #signsofbreastcancer #breastcancersymptoms #breastcancerawareness