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Begin the exam at the
armpit. Move your three middle
fingers together using light,
medium and deep pressures. Use
the pads of your three middle
fingers together, to examine every
part of your breast tissue. Your
hand should move in straight rows
to cover all the breast tissue and
then repeat on the other side.
If you feel anything new in
your breast, visit your doctor
immediately.
Diagnosis and
Treatment
According to Dr. Kazim, the best
early diagnosis for breast cancer
should include a combination of
routine breast self-examination,
an annual physical examination
by an expert and screening
mammograms in women over
the age of 40. Screening means
women over the age of 40 with no
obvious symptoms of the disease
such as no pain, no lump, and no
nipple discharge and then using
various techniques such as clinical
examination, mammograms and
so forth to pick the disease up
at an early and treatable stage.
Once detected, she adds that the
management of breast cancer
is individualized for the most
part and is improving rapidly in
all fields. “Treatment is in four
stages – surgery, chemotherapy,
radiotherapy and hormone therapy
but not every case of breast cancer
will require all these treatment
modalities,” she says.
Mammography
Mammographic screening
for breast cancer, explains
Dr. Dmitrieva, uses x-rays to
examine the breast for any
uncharacteristic masses or lumps.
“In some countries a screening
mammogram is suggested at
age 40, with a repeat screening
every year or two,” she says
while some national programs
start mammography at 45.
Mammography screening is
recommended at an earlier age
and additional testing may include
genetic screening that tests for
the BRCA genes and / or magnetic
resonance imaging.
Reconstruction
Many women opt for breast
reconstruction after treatment.
Plastic surgeon Dr. Malcolm D. Paul
explains that the most common
options for breast reconstruction are:
the placement of a tissue expander
to stretch the remaining breast
envelope followed by insertion of
a permanent breast implant. “This
is desired by many women who do
not want or are not candidates to
have their abdominal skin and fat
used for reconstruction,” he says.
“Another is the use of skin and fat
from the abdomen to reconstruct
the breast providing a natural feel
to the reconstructed breast while
simultaneously improving the
contour of the abdomen.” There
are also fat injections alone to
reconstruct the breast. This is
desirable because there is minimal
downtime; no use of an implant
in many cases and provides a soft,
natural feeling breast.
All
You Need To
Know About
Breast Cancer
Awareness
18
Sep/Oct 2015