Do you examine your breasts once a month?

[tinkerbell]

The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass in your breasts, and no, contrary to popular belief, you DON'T have to be over forty years of age to get breast cancer.  I work in the health care industry and know several women who have gotten it in their mid and late twenties; hence, it is never too soon to start checking your breasts for unusual nodules.  Normally, a lump that is painless, hard, and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. But some cancers are tender, soft, and rounded. So it's VERY IMPORTANT to perform a BSE (Breast Self Exam) at least once a month.  If you find or feel anything unusual in your breasts while performing a BSE, please be sure to check with your personal physician STAT.

Other signs of breast cancer include the following:

* a swelling of part of the breast
* skin irritation or dimpling
* nipple pain or the nipple turning inward
* redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin
* a nipple discharge other than breast milk
* a lump in the underarm area

To find out how to perform a BREAST SELF EXAM, please click the link below:

http://www.ahealthyme.com/topic/breastexam



tink

[Janet_Girl]

I examine at the first of the month as recommended by my doctor.

[Jay]

I used to examine in the shower will now continue to as well.. as breast cancer does happen in men as well as women.

Also I know a few women who have had it at the ages of 15 to 22 so "40" is just a myth as Tink said!

Jay

[NicholeW.]

I had a wonderful friend who died after a year of being treated with a virulent breast cancer when she was 28.

Checking them in the shower is always a wonderful idea. At least once a month, if you're obsessive even more.

Good information, Tink.

Nichole

[Hazumu]

I have to leave reminders to do it -- it's VERY easy to neglect.

=K

[vanna]

a really good thread,

every woman or transitioner should do this i got a microfibre cloth from breast cancer charity dinner that allow you to feel small lump or bump and do it every month too

also here is a guide for examination

http://health.yahoo.com/women-breast/breast-self-examination/healthwise--hw3791.html

[Osiris]

I examine mine often since breast cancer a big worry of mine. But a problem of mine is that my lymph nodes tend to swell from time to time so I will get bumps in my under arms. First time this happened I nearly had a heart attack freaking out about it.

[Jeannette]

I check them twice a month.  I'm not 40 but my mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at 32 years old.  She's one of the lucky ones that survived.  I get a breast ultrasound. It shows all tissues of the breast, including the one close to the chest wall, which doesn't show on a mammogram. I have got implants and have been getting ultrasounds for the past 2 years instead of mammograms.

[Cindy]

Yes check
And also if you are in a high risk family, get the genes for BRACA1 and BRACA2 analysed. Don't care if you are XX or XY. If you are on E as an MtF you're at risk. Yes XY breast cancer happens. It's not common in the XY population. BUT in the F'TMs KEEP checking. BTW anyone with testicles, they should also be checked monthly. Same thing.

Cindy James

[Sandy]

Also get a regular mammogram.  At least get a baseline mammogram.  Your earliest detection is best done from the mammography.

-Sandy

[Miniar]

I rub my chest after the day because it gets sore from being tied up and restricted. I think I'd notice if they'd start feeling "different".

[tinkerbell]

Regarding breast implants (thank you Jeannette for pointing that out).  You can still do BSE if you have breast implants, but you have to know where the edges of the implant are; hence getting help from your surgeon/doctor to identify those edges is important so that you know what you are feeling when you do a BSE.


tink

[Jay]

Regarding breast implants (thank you Jeannette for pointing that out).  You can still do BSE if you have breast implants, but you have to know where the edges of the implant are; hence getting help from your surgeon/doctor to identify those edges is important so that you know what you are feeling when you do a BSE.


tink

Very true Tink.

Jay

[Lisbeth]

I used to be faithful about it, but now I'm falling down on the job. I also need to schedule my yearly mammogram.

[fae_reborn]

I used to be faithful about it, but now I'm falling down on the job. I also need to schedule my yearly mammogram.

Same here, I will start doing self exams in the shower again.  BTW, when should you begin getting yearly mammograms?

[Cindy]

Yer
I've got a Sherlock Holmes lens and keep looking if they grow.
Not so far.

But do examine you are the only one who knows changes

Cindy James

[Windrider]

Fae: Most doctors recommend yearly mammograms starting at age 40. However, if you have a family history of breast cancer, they may want you to start earlier.

As for remembering the monthly self exam, my doctor gave me this plastic tag that has the instructions printed on it and little punchouts for each month. I hang it in my shower so I remember

WR

[V M]

Now that I'm beginning to grow breasts I check 'em out and will prob. start getting mammograms soon.

I'm actually wearing a Breast Cancer Awareness stretch top today 

[Butterfly]

I can't say that I do it every month, but I'm always on the look out for anything abnormal. I also have one of the waterproof cards hanging in my shower.  I put them in my sister's and mum's stockings for Christmas last year.  Good advice.

[tinkerbell]

Fae: Most doctors recommend yearly mammograms starting at age 40. However, if you have a family history of breast cancer, they may want you to start earlier.
WR

Indeed! ... and the reason for this is that a young (under 30) woman's breast is much firmer and the tissue too dense which makes it nearly impossible to see any masses that may be present.  However, if there is a history of breast cancer in your family, your doctor can  recommend an ultrasound or MRI.  The problem is that if you are under forty, some (if not most) insurance companies do not want to cover any of these preventive services, and the patient usually ends up paying everything out of pocket.

A helpful link regarding mammograms:

http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Detection/screening-mammograms


tink