Breast cancer is predominant among women. Diagnosis of breast cancer can be done at home itself instead of waiting for the symptoms to appear and then consulting a doctor. Especially for younger women, it’s important to learn to check your own breasts too.
Here Are the Most Common Misconceptions About Breast Cancer:
1. Breast Cancer Is Always Shown as a Lump
In the latest survey, 96% of women think that a lump was a symptom of breast cancer. But 39% did not know they should also look out for redness or a rash on the breast or nipple. More than a quarter didn’t know that an inverted nipple is a symptom, and 23% didn’t realize nipple discharge was a warning sign for cancer, too.
There are lots of signs and symptoms including changes to the nipples, not just the breast itself, from discharge to changes in the size and shape.
2. Check Your Breasts in a Certain Way
It can often feel like there is a particular way to check your breasts, but actually, there’s no set way to check your breasts and there’s no right or wrong way to do it.
Instead for most women, the most important thing is just getting to know their breasts. If women know how their breasts feel normally, everyone can understand any unusual changes.
3. Women with Small Breasts Are Less Affected
Many women think that they will not get affected by breast cancer since their breasts are of small sizes. But that’s not true. Everyone has breast tissue, and women of all sizes and shapes should examine them regularly for any changes.
4. You Should Check Them When You’re Not on Your Period
Many women’s breasts change their shape and size during their periods. But this doesn’t mean that women cannot test their breast during their menstruation.
Since the breasts change their shape and size during periods, they will know how their breasts will change during periods, thus women would know if there are any unusual changes apart from the usual change.
The more women feel and look at their breasts, the more they’ll know if something is new, or has been there for a number of months, years – or all their life. Women need to check up to the underarms.
5. You Just Check the Breasts
Most women tend to think a breast cancer check involves only looking at their breasts. But Harris says cancer can appear anywhere from the lymph nodes in the armpits to lymph nodes in the neck.
Women need to feel everywhere from the collarbone area to the middle of the armpits.
6. Only Go to The Doctor If There’s a Lump
There are a number of symptoms of breast cancer and if a woman notices any of these changes she should make an appointment with her doc. Experts suggest that women should go to the doctor as soon as they notice anything.
The symptoms for breast cancer are only related to physical changes in the chest and upper body, as explained above. There are no symptoms such as obvious sickness. So, its important women see a doctor as soon as they notice any change.
7. Breast Cancer Only Affects Older Women
Though it is a universal factor that 80 percent of cases occur in women over 50, breast cancer can occur at any age. It means that all women – as soon as they’ve finished puberty – should be checking their breasts.
Not only women, but it also affects men, around 330 each year.
How to Check for Breast Cancer at Home?
All experts stress that it is important to not follow any set routine but just know your breasts and body. The following are some procedures:
- Check your breasts as a part of your daily routine, whether it’s in the shower, the bath or when you’re getting dressed.
- Use a wet or moisturized hand to check yourself with.
- If you have large breasts, you can lift them in front of the mirror and see the underside.
- It’s just knowing what’s normal so you’ll notice if anything changes.
Come on women… Check regularly for any unusual changes and shoot out breast cancer successfully….
