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Breast cancer is the fear of every woman. It is a leading cause of death among women in the United States. One of the keys to beating this killer is to detect breast cancer in its earliest stages of development. A successful way of doing this is to regularly perform breast exams on yourself, and here is the proper way to do this:
Every woman should start self breast exams when they reach twenty years of age. Self exams should be performed every month. If you have a problem remembering to do this, then by all means mark your calendar in red ink to remind you. This isn't a simple reminder that you have a dentist appointment on a certain day, this is a reminder to help yourself and possibly save your own life!
Lie down on a bed, couch, or other comfortable surface. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and place your right arm underneath your head. Use your left hand to feel your right breast. Press down hard enough so that you can feel your entire breast. Move your fingers around your breast in a pattern so that you will cover the entire breast area. Feel for lumps, tenderness, and swelling in your breast. Feel also for any changes in your breast since your last self exam. Be sure to check the lymph nodes which are located underneath your arm. Finally, feel the area above your right breast in order to detect any lumps or unusual conditions. After you have finished examining your right breast, change sides and examine your left breast in the same manner. Now stand up and perform the self breast exam on both your left and right breasts. Next, stand in front of a well-lighted mirror and look for redness, dry patches, or any other unusual skin conditions on both of your breasts along with the surrounding areas. If you find any lumps or unusual conditions, you should consult your doctor or healthcare professional immediately. Don't panic. Keep in mind that not all lumps or unusual conditions are positive signs of cancer.
The American Cancer Society recommends that all women between the ages of twenty and thirty-nine should have a clinical breast examination every three years. Women who are forty or older should have a mammogram every year. These examinations are in addition to performing the self breast exams you do every month.
Self breast exams, in conjunction with regular examinations performed by your doctor or healthcare professional, are an important part of detecting cancer early. You should also try to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly as part of an overall plan for energy and good health.
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