From: healthline.com
The importance of self-exams
The American Cancer Society’s (ACS) most recent guidelinesTrusted Source reflect that self-exams haven’t shown a clear benefit, especially for women who also get screening mammograms, even when doctors conduct those exams. Still, some men and women will find breast cancer and be diagnosed with it as a result of a lump detected during a self-exam.
If you’re a woman, it’s important for you to be familiar with how your breasts look and check them regularly. This will help you become aware of any changes or abnormalities as they occur.
All breast lumps deserve medical attention. Unusual lumps or bumps in breast tissue are something that should be examined by a doctor. The vast majority of lumps aren’t cancerous.
Breast cancer lumps don’t all feel the same. Your doctor should examine any lump, whether or not it meets the most common symptoms listed below.
Most commonly, a cancerous lump in the breast:
- is a hard mass
- is painless
- has irregular edges
- is immobile (doesn’t move when pushed)
- appears in the upper outer portion of your breast
- grows over time
Not all cancerous lumps will meet these criteria, and a cancerous lump that has all of these traits isn’t typical. A cancerous lump may feel rounded, soft, and tender and can occur anywhere in the breast. In some cases, the lump can even be painful.
Some women also have dense, fibrous breast tissue. Feeling lumps or changes in your breasts may be more difficult if this is the case.
Having dense breasts also makes it more difficult to detect breast cancer on mammograms. Despite the tougher tissue, you might still be able to identify when a change begins in your breast.
In addition to a lump, you may experience one or more of the following most common breast cancer symptoms:
- swelling on part or all of your breast
- nipple discharge (other than breast milk, if breastfeeding)
- skin irritation or scaling
- redness of the skin on the breast and nipples
- a thickening of the skin on the breast and nipples
- a nipple turning inward
- swelling in the arm
- swelling under the armpit
- swelling around the collar bone
You should see your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms, with or without the presence of a lump. In many cases, these symptoms aren’t caused by cancer. Still, you and your doctor will want to do some tests to find out why it’s happening.
Breast cancer is the most common cancerTrusted Source diagnosed in women in the United States. Most breast lumps aren’t cancerous, however. You should visit your doctor if you see or feel anything new or unusual in your breast during a self-exam.
Despite the statistics and ACS guidelines, many women still choose to continue performing self-exams. Whether or not you choose to do self-exams, you should talk to your doctor about the appropriate age to begin screening mammograms.
Following recommended breast cancer screening guidelines is the most important thing you can do to ensure early detection of breast cancer. The sooner breast cancer is detected, the sooner treatment can begin, and the better your outlook will be.
Barbara Jacoby is an award winning blogger that has contributed her writings to multiple online publications that have touched readers worldwide.