5 Tips To Follow Amidst Breast Cancer Awareness Month

There has been a steep surge in the number of breast cancer cases being detected in women. The rate of the surge is alarming. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers among females, which can easily be treated with a sound success rate if kept in check within due time. Nowadays, breast cancer is even clenching young women, who have just reached 20 years of age. In order to rectify breast cancer at an early stage, thorough self-examination and screening are of immense importance.

Breast cancer, in its preliminary stage, poses symptoms such as the formation of painless lumps in the breast or armpits, breast bending out of shape, dimplings in the breast skin, nipple retraction etc. As per research conducted by the International Agency on Cancer, a totally of 1.78 lakh fresh cancer cases surfaced in India in the year 2020, which constituted 26.3% of all the cancer cases discovered among women in the country, thereby declaring breast cancer as the most commonly occurring cancer in India.

Renowned gynaecologists assert, “The number of breast cancer cases are soaring all over the country. Hence, it is the need of the hour to diagnose it and opt for its effective treatment at an early stage. Mammography, ultrasound and MRI are some of the most efficient screening tools, used to detect this ailment.

Thereafter, the gynaecologists have also apprised of the 5-step guide to follow, to detect any kind of changes that your breast undergoes. All 5 of them are listed below:

1. Meticulously examine your breasts in the mirror. In case you discover any kind of swelling, soreness, dimpling, rashes, unusual shape or colour, immediately see a doctor and report him/her the state of your breasts.

2. Secondly, try to examine other unusual changes like redness, tenderness or pain in the breasts.

3. Try squeezing the breast and the nipple to look for discharge, if any.

4. Lie down somewhere to examine your breasts now. Examine right breast with the left hand and vice-versa. Cover the entire breast in a circular motion

5. Repeat the same procedure, as mentioned in step 4, but with your position changed, to standing or sitting posture.