Breast care for all adults, all year!
November 4th, 2011Breast Cancer Awareness Month is over; however, it is important for women to remain aware of signs and symptoms of breast cancer all year long. It is recommended for women in their 20’s to perform monthly self-breast exams. Many breast cancers are found through self-exams. If cancer is detected in its early stages, the 5-year survival rate is very high. Self-breast exams can easily be performed in the shower and can be added to your routine without extra hassle. With your fingers flat, move gently over every part of each breast. Use your right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast. Check for any lump, hard knot, or thickening. Carefully observe any changes in your breasts. Keep in mind that if you detect a lump, most are non-cancerous, but do follow up with your doctor to get confirmation!
In addition to monthly self-exams, Women in their 20’s and 30’s should have a clinical breast exam as part of their routine checkups. Between ages 35 and 40, it is recommended that women should have a mammogram screening, and should continue to have a breast exam performed by a doctor every year. There are about 240,000 to 350,000 who undergo breast implant surgery each year. As many of those women are informed, breast implants do not cause cancer, but they do not prevent it either. As a board certified plastic surgeon, Dr. Alexander does remind his Las Vegas Breast Augmentation patients to continue the monthly self-exams and see their primary care physician for clinical exams and mammogram recommendations. Women who have implants should let their mammographer know to ensure that the proper technique is used.
Click here for more ways to perform a self-breast exam at home.
