Angelina Jolie was proactive about breast cancer, you can be too: How to Know if You Have Breast Cancer

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HomeArticlesCommunityMy Profile WH.translationData = {};WH.mergeLang({'navlist_collapse': '- collapse','navlist_expand': '+ expand'});EditHome » Categories » Health » Conditions and Treatments » CancerHow to Know if You Have Breast CancerEdited by General Jackson, Elizabeth Knudsen, BR, Maluniu and 8 others

Pin ItArticle EditDiscussBreast cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in the United States, affecting one in eight women.[1] Though the risk is much lower for men, they’re also susceptible. A history of breast cancer in your family makes it especially important to be proactive. Awareness, early detection and swift treatment increase survival rates. Here’s how to check yourself for signs of breast cancer, as well as what to expect when you seek treatment.

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Part One: Recognizing Symptoms at Home1Perform a self-exam. A self-exam is free and painless, and it only takes a few minutes.Do a self-exam once a month. Aim for the week after your period.Check yourself in the shower. Raise your right arm straight up, bending your elbow so that your right hand is behind your head. Start in the outer quadrant of the breast and glide the pads of fingers over the skin in small, circular motions. Note any lumpy, hardened or tender spots. The typical description of a lump caused by cancer is of an irregular, hard, painless mass that does not move. Repeat the process on your left breast.Don’t skip your armpits! Breast tissue actually extends up into the armpit, so be sure to include it in your self-exam. Feel from your armpit up to your collar bone. If you find a lump this may indicate an enlarged lymph node, and can be due to cancer or infection.Check around the nipple. Finish the self-exam with a gentle squeezing in the central breast, around the nipple. Note any thickness or irregularities.Know what you’re trying to find. Breast tissue is naturally lumpy. Palpating a new lump is like feeling a marble in a bag of rice. If you notice something new or concerning, call a doctor to schedule a mammogram or ultrasound.2Look for visible changes in the breast. Stand in front of the mirror, and lift and lower your arms. Look for any unusual retractions or bulging in the breast tissue. Also note any changes in the appearance or feel of the breasts, including:Dimpled and puckered skin, like the skin of an orange (known as peau d’orange)New redness, or a scaly rashUnusual breast swelling or tendernessNipple changes, such as retraction, itchiness, or rednessNipple discharge, which can be bloody, clear or yellow3Know the most common risk factors associated with breast cancer. Some people have a higher chance of developing breast cancer than others. Be aware, though, that just because you fall into these categories, you’re not doomed to have breast cancer — you should just be extra careful about self-exams and yearly medical check-ups. Factors that indicate higher risk include:Gender: Women get breast cancer more often than men.Age: Most people who have breast cancer are over 45 years old.Personal medical history: If you have a previous diagnosis of breast cancer, there is a risk that the cancer can re-occur in the same breast, or in the opposite breast.Family history: You are more likely to develop breast cancer if one or more members of your family have had breast, ovarian, uterine or colon cancer. Your risk is doubled if you have a first-degree relative (sister, mother, daughter) with the disease.Genes: Genetic defects found on BRCA1 and BRCA 2 can dramatically increase your risk of developing breast cancer. You can find out if you have these genes by contacting a genome mapping service.Menstrual periods: If you started menstruating before you were 12 years old, or entered menopause when you were older than 55, your risk is slightly increased.Pregnancy and breastfeeding: An early pregnancy or multiple pregnancies can both reduce your risk, as does breastfeeding. Having no children or getting pregnant after the age of 30 increases your risk of developing breast cancer.Lifestyle factors: Obesity, smoking and alcohol use are all risk factors for the disease.Hormone replacement therapy (HRT): Current or previous use can increase the risk for breast cancer.4Recognize signs of advanced breast cancer. Remember, having these signs doesn’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer. They’re all good reasons to see a doctor, though, for further investigation. Symptoms include:Weight lossBone painShortness of breathUlceration of the breast

Part Two: Screening for Breast Cancer1Get a manual check once a year. When you go in for your yearly physical or pelvic exam, ask your physician to do a manual check for any suspicious lumps. He or she might be able to detect something you missed in your last self-exam.Know what to expect. Your doctor will have you lie down on the examination table, then use the pads of the fingers to examine the entire breast area, including the armpits and collarbones. The exam shouldn’t take more than a minute or two.Overcome your embarrassment. Doctors do these exams a lot — they’ve seen it all! If you’re still not totally comfortable, you can ask for a nurse or family member to be present in the room for the exam. (If you’re a female patient seeing a male doctor, this is probably standard procedure anyway.) Take a deep breath and remind yourself that this is a necessary part of keeping an eye on your health.2Get a mammogram. A mammogram is a low-energy X-ray used to examine breast tissue, and it can detect lumps before you’re able to feel them. Here’s when you should get one:If you’re younger than 40 with no family history of breast cancer, you probably don’t need a mammogram just yet. If you’re concerned, though, ask your doctor about when you should have one.If you’re younger than 40 with a family history of breast cancer, consider getting a mammogram once a year.If you’re over 40, you should get a mammogram once a year.

Part Three: Investigating Suspicious Changes1Go in for more testing. If you find a lump on your own, call your doctor and request a manual exam or a mammogram. From there, your doctor can order additional tests to investigate any troubling changes. Here are some tests you might encounter:Diagnostic mammogram: A breast X-ray to evaluate the lump. This may take longer than a screening mammogram because more images will be required.Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This test uses magnetic fields to create images of the breast.Ultrasound: Ultrasonic waves are used to produce an image of the breast. Current evidence reports this test is best used in conjunction with a mammogram.2Get a biopsy. If the tests above still point to a cause for concern, your doctor might order a biopsy. Tissue is removed from the suspicious area of the breast and analyzed. Most breast tissue biopsies are outpatient procedures, and you won’t have to stay overnight in a hospital.3 Find support.Find support. Breast cancer can feel like a devastating diagnosis, and you might have a lot of worries and concerns you can’t discuss with anyone else. Take some time to locate cancer support groups in your area via the American Cancer Society, or look around online for breast cancer support forums or discussion boards. Talking to other patients or breast cancer survivors can calm your fears, and help you feel emotionally prepared to tackle treatment.

Edit TipsSee a doctor for a formal diagnosis. Some lumps are benign, so don't work yourself into a panic before you've had a medical evaluation.It has been discovered that vitamin D deficiency is a better marker for breast cancer than a mammogram! You are almost surely vitamin D deficient, unless you spend an average of an hour a day outside, in the summer, and depending upon your latitude, three hours a day in the winter might still be insufficient. Seek other, dietary sources of vitamin D.

Edit Related wikiHowsHow to Do a Breast Self ExamHow to Deal With a Newly Detected Breast LumpHow to Recognize Signs of Breast CancerHow to Recognize Male Breast CancerHow to Prevent Breast Cancer

EditSources and Citationshttp://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/http://www.cancer.org/treatment/indexhttp://ww5.komen.org/? http://www.cancer.org/cancer/breastcancer/overviewguide/breast-cancer-overview-key-statisticsArticle Info Featured Article

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