2016 EDITION vol.3 issue 12 DIGITAL

Health
very person has cancer cells in the body. These cancer cells do
not show up in the standard tests until they have multiplied to a
few billion. When doctors tell cancer patients that there are no
more cancer cells in their bodies after treatment, it just means the tests
are unable to detect the cancer cells because they have not reached the
detectable size.
Therefore, breast self-exams can be an important way to find breast
cancer at an early stage. According to Johns Hopkins Medical Centre
“forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who
feel a lump; so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”
It is therefore, very important to learn how to perform a breast self-exam
to check for lumps or any other changes that may signal breast cancer, by
taking the following precautions:
Stand in front of the mirror
SELF- EXAM
Breast cancer is
the development of
cancerous tumors
that develop from
breast cells. The
signs may include a
lump in the breast,
change in breast
shape, fluid coming
out of nipples and
skin dimpling.
Look and observe your breasts keenly with your shoulders
straight and the arms held on to the hips
Check for breasts usual size, shape and skin color and if you
notice anything different or a symptom, please bring it to
medical personnel’s attention.
After, raise your arms head level high and look out for similar
changes like in step one, try to move your hands around the
breast and feel if there are changes in how it feels.
Lie down and roll on either side to examine the opposite side
breast.
During the touch check, make sure your breast lies as flat as
possible
Using your finger soft pads move in small circles from the end
towards the nipple and changing the amount of pressure exerted
every round of circle taken for three times.
However, in doing breast self-exam, you should take the following tips
into consideration;
Do the self-exam at the end of your monthly period
If you are pregnant, on menopause, or if you have irregular
period, choose a specific day each month to do the self-exam.
This exam shouldn’t be performed in the shower or with lotion
on your skin/fingers
If you find a lump or notice other unusual changes, remember not to
panic because about 80% of the lumps found aren’t cancerous. Therefore,
you need not to worry but see a doctor or seek medical advice promptly
for further evaluation.
Definitely, a little bit of carefulness could save lives and debunk the
myths behind murderous cancer. It is worth the effort!
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