Touch Those Boobs for Healthy Breasts
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Did You Know Breast Cancer is the Most Common Cancer in Women?
The key to successful prevention is early treatment. By giving yourself a breast exam each month, you will notice if there are any changes in your breasts. Experts recommend that women should start doing a breast self-examination (BSE) from the age of 20.
Women should give themselves a BSE at the same time every month:
- Menstruating women should wait until menstruating is over, so the breasts are less tender.
- Postmenopausal women simply need to perfrom the exam at same time each month.
Many breasts do have different kinds of "lumpy" or bumpy areas, so if a woman becomes familiar with these areas, she will become more aware when there is an unusual lumpy or bumpy area.
If you feel something unusual (even if you have only just begun giving yourself breast self exams), consult your doctor. When I first started performing monthly BSE's, I felt a lump in one of my breasts that convinced me I had a cancerous lump. It took me an entire year before I brought it up at my annual exam because I was scared. Unfortunately, if it had been cancerous, I would have wasted precious time. It turned out, fortunately, to be fibrous breast tissue. I learned what feels normal in my breasts, and no longer feel afraid to bring up any issues with my doctor.
Remember that not all tumors are cancerous. Most lumps found on breasts (80% of those biopsied) are non-cancerous.
Remember that finding a change in your breast does not mean cancer.
Breast self-exams can help find cancerous lumps when they are still small enough to effectively treat. However, it is important to remember that self-exams alone won't be effective if you don't also consult with your physician and receive yearly clincial exams. Not all tumors can be detected in a BSE, but many can.
The more you touch those boobs, the more familiar you are with them. This means you will be more aware when there are unusual changes.
Breast Cancer Awareness Begins with You.
What are the basic breast health steps?
- Mammograms every year starting at age 40.
- Women under 40 with a family history of breast cancer or other concerns should talk with a health care provider. Screening tests may be needed more often and/or started earlier.
- Clinical breast exams by a health care provider at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year after 40.
- Breast self-exams every month starting by age 20.
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Comments
An important hub!
I have always hated doing these. I dunno why, probably because Im always afraid Ill find something. So I usually have a bf do it for me...lol..they are usually more familiar with how my breasts feel than I am, anyway. ;-)
I almost put that as a tip in this hub: have your significant other touch those boobs too! Really, the more people familiar with how they normally feel, the better. Whenever I think I feel something odd, I have my husband check it out too.
Great hub with excellent information. Breast cancer is on both sides of my family, and has killed loved ones of mine.
But I gotta say, your title is great. It made me laugh, even if it is a very serious subject.
Well, the title was supposed to be kind of funny. But, you are right, it is a serious subject. I guess we need to find a way to make "talking about it" a normal part of our lives--I like humor. I hope you stay healthy Angela.
...I ended up at this hub only because it mentioned boobs and breasts in the title...yes check your boobs and hanging things everyone!
Hm...perhaps a "Squeeze Those Hanging Things for Healthy Hangers" hub is in order!
After reading this article I now feel confident in checking for abnormalitys in breasts myself, as soon as I can get my hands on some!!!! ..Just kidding, Very usefull information Stacie.
I can see why this hub is so popular! I thought HubPages removed adult content? HIDE THE CHILDREN!!
Just teasing.. way to take the edge off a very serious topic
Learn More About BSE's & Breast Cancer
- Breast self-exams: One way to detect breast cancer - MayoClinic.com
Breast self-exams — with clinical breast exams and mammography — may help you detect breast cancer. - ACS :: How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam
The American Cancer Society encourages women to report any breast changes to their docotor or nurse without delay. One way women can be familiar with their breasts is through breast self examination. - http://cms.komen.org/komen/AboutBreastCancer/EarlyDetectionScreening/BreastSelf-Exam/index.htm?ssSou
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cgull8m says:
11 months ago
Good Hub topic, I will pass this to my friends. I have also bookmarked it for reference. Well done.