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Seek advice immediately if you notice any change in your breasts. |
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If you are 40 years or above, ask your doctor about having a mammogram. |
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As you grow older, regular mammograms should become part of your usual health checks. |
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Do monthly breast self-examination (BSE). |
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| 5. |
Have your doctor examine your breasts at least once a year. |
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| The little time you spend each month to examine your breasts could save your life. The American Cancer Society recommends that, if you are menstruating, do the breasts self-examination (BSE) described below 7 to 10 days after the first day of your period. If you are postmenopausal or no longer menstruating, do the BSE on the first day of the month. You will become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel if you do the BSE the same way every month. If you notice unusual change, see your doctor right away. Do not panic. These changes may not automatically mean you have breasts cancer but your doctor should further evaluate them. Some of the changes should watch out for are as follows: |
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a lump or thickening in or near the breast or underarm area |
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a change in the size or shape of the breast |
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a puckering, dimpling or redness of the breast skin |
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| While taking a shower, raise your left arm. With the pads of the three fingers of your right hand, carefully examine your left breast for lumps or hard knots, starting from the centre of your armpit. With varying degrees of pressure, make small circles up and down. Include the area above the breast, up to the collarbone and all the way out to your shoulder. Repeat this process on your right breast. |
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| Place your hands by your sides and check your breasts for any changes in color, size, shape, dimpling or scaling of the skin. It is not unusual for one breast to be larger than the other. Check again, first placing hands on hips - pressing shoulders and elbows forward to flex chest muscles - then with hands raised and clasped behind your head. Gently squeeze each nipple between your thumb and forefinger, checking for sticky or bloody discharge. A drop or two of clear or milky fluid is normal. |
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| With a pillow or a folded towel under your left shoulder, raise your left hand above your head. Examine your entire breast in circular motions as described in Step 1, beginning at the armpit. Use light, medium and deep pressures. Do not lift your fingers from your breast as you move them in order not to miss any spot. You can use lotion to make it easier for your fingers to slide over your skin. After you have covered the entire breast area, put your arm down beside you. With your arm relaxed by your side, examine the part of your breast that goes up into your armpit. Repeat the entire process on your right breast. Also gently squeeze each nipple to check for discharge. |
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