Early Datection of Breast Cancer

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Five Steps of Breast Self-Examination

Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. The illustrations below are the visible signs of breast cancer that every woman should look for during breast self-examination.[pic 1][pic 2][pic 3]

Enlargement and Asymmetry Retraction Sign Paget Disease

(Eczema like condition)

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[pic 4]

[pic 5][pic 6]

Skin dimpling Nodules Ulceration

[pic 7][pic 8]

Edema of the Skin

(peau d’ orange) Abnormal Contours

MLA Citation:

“Breast Cancer Symptoms” Aguileon.com 31 Jan 2016

http://www.aguileon.com/search/label/cancer%20prognosis?max-results=5

Step 2. Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

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Step 3: While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to

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do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

MLA Citation:

“The Five Steps of a Breast Self-Exam” BreastCancer.org. 31 Jan 2016

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps>

Diagnosis

After self-examination and a lump and other suggested changes has been found, additional test are needed to diagnose if the disease is present. Mammography is done to know the exact location of the lump and determine if there are other abnormalities on the both breast. Ultrasonography is use to determine if the lump is fluid-filled or solid. Fluid-filled lumps are called cyst. Cysts are usually not cancerous. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the breast scans use radio waves and strong magnets instead of x-rays. The energy from the radio waves is absorbed and then released in a pattern formed by the type of body tissue and by certain diseases. A computer translates the pattern into a very detailed image. For breast MRI to look for cancer, a contrast liquid called gadolinium is injected into a vein before or during the scan to show details better.

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If a solid abnormal lump on the breast is found, a biopsy is using an MRI for guidance performed. In biopsy samples of tissue from the lump or lump sample is being examined under a microscope to determine if cancer is present. If it is, other test will be performed to determine the stage or extent of the cancer. The result of the tests conducted allows the doctor to develop a profile of the cancer that guides them in selecting treatment approaches.

MLA Citation:

“How is Breast Cancer diagnosed?” AmericanCancerSociety. 31 Jan 2016

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/detailedguide/breast-cancer-diagnosis

Treatments

Breast cancer treatments depend on the type and stage of cancer and the woman’s overall health. Treatments always involve surgery depending on the size of the tumor or how many lymph nodes contain cancer cells. Radiation therapy and chemotherapy maybe used after surgery. However, if the tumor is large, chemotherapy is given before surgery to reduce its size. Hormone-blocking drugs such as antibodies are used to help the body fight cancer. Therapy is often use in combination of this technique. However breast cancer that has spread beyond the lymph nodes is rarely cured. Treatments may just

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relieve symptoms, improve survival, and afford a good quality of life. It is therefore recommended for every woman to be responsible of themselves. Regularly examine your breast for early detection of abnormalities and report it to the doctor for thorough examination. This simple task can save your life. Act now before it’s too late.

Conclusion

In conclusion, women with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop breast cancer. A risk factor is something that may increase the chance of getting a disease. Some risk factors such as drinking alcohol can be avoided. But most risk factors such as having a family history of breast cancer can’t be avoided. Having a risk factor does not mean that a woman will get breast cancer. Many women who have risk factors never develop breast cancer. Improving diet and exercise hobbit reduce our risk of breast cancer. Therefore whether you’re male or female the best way to fight breast cancer is to have a plan that helps you detect the disease in its early stages. Indeed, the