Talking about breast cancer and busting the two biggest myths. Know your body, it could save your life.
Cancer. It’s a word that inspires fear, uncertainty and a host of emotions that can range from anger and confusion to hopelessness and grief. While cancer can be beaten if caught early enough, it helps to know the signs and symptoms so that you give yourself the best possible chance of recovery. There are many different kinds of cancer, but, for the purposes of this blog, we’ll be talking about breast cancer and ‘busting’ two of the biggest myths along the way.
Wrong. While breast cancer is more prevalent among women, it is rarely a condition that men are also diagnosed with. So, this type of cancer affects both men and women. Check out our blog on male breast cancer for more info by clicking here.
Death and taxes, as the old saying goes, are two things that are pretty much guaranteed in this life. Yes, everyone alive right now will eventually die. But, death from cancer, fortunately, doesn’t come with that same guarantee. It is a fact that cancer if detected early, and with the appropriate medical treatment can be stopped, as there are cancer survivors who are in remission, and consequently, alive. However, each case is different, and false hope helps no-one, so get medical advice soonest.
With our busy and stressful modern lifestyle, it’s easy to not pay attention to our bodies. It’s tempting to ignore the little tell-tale signs and attribute those to general fatigue and a busy schedule, but subtle changes in your body could be cause for concern. Have a look below to see a few tips on self-examination, particularly your breasts, and if one or more symptoms present, it’s best to go see your doctor right away.
To prepare for your breast self-exam for breast awareness:
Begin with a visual examination of your breasts
Sit or stand shirtless and braless in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. To inspect your breasts visually, do the following:
Common ways to perform the manual part of the breast exam include:
Lying down. Choose a bed or other flat surface to lie down on your back. When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out, making it thinner and easier to feel.
In the shower. Lather your fingers and breasts with soap to help your fingers glide more smoothly over your skin.
If you have a disability that makes it difficult to examine your breasts using this technique, you likely can still conduct a breast self-exam. Ask your doctor to show you ways you can examine your breasts.
Many women find lumps or changes in their breasts since some of these are normal changes that occur at various points in the menstrual cycles. Finding a change or lump in your breast is not a reason to panic. Breasts often feel different in different places. A firm ridge along the bottom of each breast is normal, for instance. The look and feel of your breasts will change as you age.
Make an appointment with your doctor if you notice:
Your doctor may recommend additional tests and procedures to investigate breast changes, including a clinical breast exam, mammogram, and ultrasound.
Source: Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-exam/about/pac-20393237
If you’ve found lumps that you’re worried about, it’s important that you make an appointment with your doctor right away. With a busy schedule, it’s easy to forget.
Don’t worry. Make your doctor’s appointment by simply downloading the Memo Health app, get a reminder to notify you on the day of your appointment, so you won’t miss it, you can find the free app for Android here.