One of Dr. Jalil’s and Dr. Somogyi’s specialties at FORM Face + Body is breast reconstruction. Breast cancer is a topic that is near and dear to their hearts, as they see the impacts it has on women’s lives every day. It is estimated that about 1 in 8 Canadian women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime, and 1 in 34 will die from it. Regularly examining your breasts is an important way to detect breast cancer early. In this blog, we’ll explain when and how to get tested for breast cancer and tips for reducing your risk.
When to do a breast self-exam
Before examining your breasts, it’s important to know that your breasts’ size, texture, and lumpiness fluctuate depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle. This can make it difficult to know what your norm is. Doing your breast self-exam once a month, a few days after your period is best – before your period, the breast tissue may feel lumpier and sore. Women who have stopped menstruating, or those who have irregular periods, should pick one day each month and stay consistent.
How to perform a breast self-exam
A breast self-exam is a step-by-step method of examining your breasts for abnormalities. Understanding what is normal for your body and noticing when there’s been a change may increase the likelihood of successful treatment.
1. Visual inspection: Stand in front of a mirror with your shirt and bra removed and place your arms down by your sides. Turn side to side and check for any changes in breast shape, swelling, dimpling in the skin, lumps, or changes in the nipples. Next, lift your arms high above your head and check for the same things. Lastly, put your hands on your hips and flex your chest muscles. Look for the same changes in both breasts.
2. Manual inspection while standing: With your shirt and bra removed, use your right hand to examine your left breast and vice versa. Using the pads of your three middle fingers, press around each part of your breast in a circular pattern with light pressure. Feel for any lumps, dense areas, or any other changes. Do this again with medium, then firm pressure. Check the area under the areola and squeeze the nipple gently to check for discharge. Then press the tissue under the armpit. Repeat these steps on the other side of the body.
3. Manual inspection while lying down: Lie down with a pillow under your right shoulder. With your right arm behind your head, use your left hand and apply the same pressures and techniques mentioned above. Repeat these steps on the other side of the body. With this position, your breast tissue spreads more evenly, so this is a good position to feel for changes, especially if you have large breasts.
While no single test can detect all types of breast cancers, performing a breast self-exam in combination with regular physical exams by a doctor, mammography, and in some cases, ultrasound and/or MRI can increase the odds of early detection.
What sort of breast changes should you look for
When doing a visual test, look for any lumps, redness, dimpling, skin sores, growing veins, thick skin, or pores that stand out. Notice if your nipples are sunken or if there’s any discharge or crust. When doing a physical examination, feel for any abnormal textures, lumps, or areas of unusual firmness. While everyone has texture and lumpiness in their breasts, people who do regular breast self-examinations are more likely to be cognizant of what’s normal for them and what’s not.
Other changes to look for include:
- Persistent pain in one area
- Rash on the nipple
- Warmth, redness, or dark spots on the skin
When to get screened
Don’t panic if you feel a lump in your breast. There are several possible causes of breast lumps, including normal hormonal changes, a benign breast condition, or an injury. But if you do notice something different in your breast tissue, it is important you contact your healthcare practitioner and ask for a mammogram or an ultrasound.
How effective are screening mammograms?
A mammogram is the best screening test for detecting breast cancer early. Mammograms can usually find lumps 2 or 3 years before you or your healthcare practitioner can feel them. But not all breast cancers are detected on a mammogram. Factors like age and breast density can influence the look of breast tissue on a mammogram, making cancers difficult to recognize. Mammograms are safe and use a low dose of radiation.
Benefits of breast cancer screening
Performing a breast self-exam or getting screened regularly with a mammogram is important because they can facilitate finding cancer before it has spread to other parts of the body. Treatment may also be more effective when breast cancer is found early. According to Cancer Care Ontario, when breast cancer is found early, almost all women will survive for 5 years. If breast cancer is found later, only 2 out of 10 women will survive for 5 years.
Average risk
If you are between 50 and 74, the Ontario Breast Screening Program (OBSP) recommends that you get screened every 2 years with mammography. If you are between the ages of 30 and 69 and meet any of the following requirements, talk to your doctor about a referral to the High-Risk Ontario Breast Screening Program:
- You are known to have a gene mutation that increases your risk for breast cancer (for example, BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, PTEN, CDH1)
- You are a first-degree relative (parent, brother, sister or child) of someone who has a gene mutation that increases their risk for breast cancer
- You have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer
- You’ve had radiation therapy to the chest to treat another cancer or condition (e.g., Hodgkin’s lymphoma) before age 30 and at least 8 years ago
Where to get screened for breast cancer
There are many Breast Screening Program locations across Ontario, and the service is covered by OHIP. Contact your family doctor or nurse practitioner to book a screening appointment, contact your nearest Ontario Breast Screening Program location, or call 1-800-668-9304.
