Breast self-examination
Women over 30 should monitor their
Self -examination is a few simple techniques for examining and feeling the mammary glands, which a woman should conduct on her own once a month in the first week after menstruation.
1. Inspection and palpation of the mammary glands in front of the mirror. Having exposed the upper half of the body, the woman stands in front of the mirror and carefully examines the first left gland, and then the right one.
It is necessary to examine the nipples, if their shape has not changed, if there is a pull or “lemon peel” in the area of the nipples and areola. After that, gently pressing with two fingers, you need to check if there are any discharge from the nipples. Then you should examine the contours of the mammary glands, note if there are any retracts or protrusions. Normally, the contours of the mammary glands are smooth (they are deformed if a tumor develops – protrusion and retraction of the skin appear). Further, turning halfway to the right, it is necessary to examine the left mammary gland and, turning halfway to the left,
– right. A breast tumor is better visible if a woman raises her hands up or puts them behind her head. This technique is used by the doctor when he establishes the presence and nature of the disease in the mammary gland.
Violation of the symmetry of the location of the nipples, the retraction of one of them, the elevated position of one breast in relation to the other, discharge from the nipple in most cases indicate the presence of a disease.
2. Examination and palpation of the mammary glands in a lying position.
A woman should lie on her back, while the mammary glands are flattened and located on the chest wall. In such conditions, sometimes protrusions that are invisible in the vertical position of the body become visible on the eye. Then, with the tips of the slightly bent fingers of the left hand with soft circular movements, pressing a little, you need to feel the entire right gland, site after site. If it is large, you need to support it with your left hand from below and feel it with the palm of your right hand, pressing the breast tissue to the chest wall. In the same way they feel the left mammary gland.
The next stage – the right hand covers the right mammary gland, the left – the left and soft circular movements are made clockwise and against it. With such a feeling, even small seals in the mammary glands can be detected.
The armpit is examined with a slightly retracted shoulder. The tips of bent fingers brought into the armpit slide down to the mammary gland, pressing the tissue against the chest wall. In this way, the enlarged lymph nodes can be felt.
With benign tumors and localized (focal) mastopathy, a breast resection is performed. The excised portion of the gland is sent for an urgent histological examination, which allows you to accurately establish the diagnosis. The operation is performed using local anesthesia, it is easy and safe. The cut on the skin heals quickly and over time a small scar remains from it.
If changes in the mammary glands are detected, the woman should consult a doctor.
Do not self-medicate!
For many years of work in the specialized department of the Oncology Research Institute for the treatment of breast cancer, oncologists have seen many women who, having discovered a tumor in the breast, did not go to the doctor for a long time – they were afraid of surgery. This is understandable, since the breast is a symbol of beauty and femininity, personifying both sexuality and motherhood. Many women self-medicated with all kinds of means and methods (tumor massage, thermal procedures), which led to increased growth and progression of the process.
DO NOT contact the “healers”!
Currently, people who are far from medicine are involved in this problem, which cause great harm to women’s health. There is such an aphorism: “The ability to be healthy is the ability not to harm one’s health.” Unfortunately, many sick and healthy people are convinced that cancer is something inevitable and incurable. Such ideas do not correspond to the modern level of knowledge, the capabilities of medicine in the fight against cancer and are harmful, because they are not only pessimistic, but also passive in maintaining their health .