Checking for Breast Cancer

Checking for breast cancer early on is very important. It is important that you have regular mammograms and have you doctor to check your breasts for lumps. You can check your own breast each month with self exams. If you do these things it will give you a good chance to find cancer in its earliest stage. 

When breast cancer is detected early the treatment is much more effective and easier on the patient. It is a good possibility that if breast cancer is found early that it may be cured. Mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early on. It can detect lumps up to two years before the lump in your breast can be felt by you. A mammogram is an x-ray of your breast that uses a small amount of radiation. These types of x-rays are very good at detecting if you have breast cancer.

A mammogram is done by putting pressure on your breast with an x-ray machine. Pressure is needed in order to spread your breast out as much as possible to take a better x-ray. It usually takes a couple of minutes to do this. The whole process takes just a few minutes time. When feeling pressure from the mammogram it can sometimes be an uncomfortable feeling, but it is only for a short time before it is over. Mammograms should be given to women over the age of forty at least every two years. If breast cancer runs in your family and your risk is higher you may want to get one every year.

You should start checking your breast for lumps at a young age starting in your late teens and early twenties. Your doctor can tell you about when you should start checking your breast for lumps. It is a good time to check your breasts right after your period is over so that your breast are less tender to the touch. You should check your breast in front of a mirror to see if there is any irregular look to your breast. Then lie down and feel your breast with your fingers in a circular motion and do this all around your breast. When you are through check your nipple for any discharge. You should also check around your collarbone and the armpit area. If there are any irregular changes to your breast of any kind see your doctor right away. Make sure you are vigilant in checking for breast cancer on a monthly basis.