Why breast examination is a necessity
Dr Omoye Egho of Purpose Incorporated (PINC) Foundation says this has become necessary as early detection of breast lump or changes in the breast can help arrest breast cancer. Zainab Sani, a lady that went in for the breast examination describes her experience thus, “the doctors asked me to remove my bra and blouse then […]
Dr Omoye Egho of Purpose Incorporated (PINC) Foundation says this has become necessary as early detection of breast lump or changes in the breast can help arrest breast cancer.
Zainab Sani, a lady that went in for the breast examination describes her experience thus, “the doctors asked me to remove my bra and blouse then I lay on the stretcher. The doctor then pressed my breast to check for any lump or changes. Though, I was tensed up during the exercise, she took her time to check thoroughly. At the end she found nothing. It is not a painful experience at all.”
Dr Omoye Egho says, “A woman in her reproductive age is supposed to examine her breast between the 7th-10th day of her menstrual cycle. The more she does this, the more she will notice any abnormal changes or growth in her breast.” Breast Self-Examination is another type of routine breast screening for early detection of breast cancer. It is recommended that women examine their breasts once a month. A few days after a woman’s period is a good time to perform a Breast Self-Examination as the breasts are less likely to be tender or sore. For women who have irregular periods, they can examine their breasts at any time of the month, says health experts.
How to perform breast Examination:
Stand in front of the mirror half naked. Look at the breast and nipple and every part of the breast. Examine the nipple by pressing it as if one wants to squeeze out something. See if there is any abnormal discharge (e.g. milkish discharge). When a woman that is not breast feeding starts lactating, then there is a problem. There is a hormone that is called prolactin, which may be high. So she has to check her prolactin level, Dr Egho says.
Dr Egho went on to say, a woman should examine the breast in a circular motion, round, with the other hand on her head. “When you are examining your left breast, your right hand should be on your head. You do the same to the other side too while lying down. Then you examine your armpits as well for lumps. These lumps are (enlargement of lympnodes,) it’s ideal you do this every month. This is the easiest way to notice a lump and it is life saving. This lump could be the onset of cancer,” she explains.
What to do when you notice a lump?
Dr Egho says when a woman notices a lump, she should see her doctor. It could be a benign lump. (Which can be harmless) and this can be removed by a simple surgery called lumpectomy, or a cancerous lump. Which can be removed hence stopping the spread of cancer.
Treatments
It could be simple lumpectomy. This means removal of the lump if it is small. The removal of the breast and lymphnodes at the armpit is called radical Mastectomy. Some women survive breast cancer attacks through this surgery, but if it is caught late, they may not.