Breast Cancer Awareness
Dr Anagha Zope
Senior Breast Oncoplastic Surgeon
It’s important to be breast aware and check your breasts for changes on a regular basis. This will allow you to find any abnormalities in your breasts early. Your doctor should be consulted as soon as possible if you notice any unexpected changes in your breasts.
Knowing your breasts and being aware of what changes are normal for you is what breast awareness is all about.
You can get to know your breasts by looking at and checking them on a regular basis in whichever way suits you best. It is important to regularly examine both your breasts and armpits for any new changes. It’s important to feel all regions of your breasts, including your nipples and the area in and around your armpits.
The five-point code for breast cancer awareness:
- Know what is normal for you
- Know what changes to look and feel for
- Look and feel your breasts regularly
- Report any changes to your doctor immediately
- Attend breast screening from the age of 40
If you’re over 40 and have already had your screening, you’ll have to repeat it every year or after every 2 or 3 years as per medical advice. It is important that you are “breast aware” and able to self-examine your breasts during this period.
If you observe a change in your breasts, you should consult your doctor as soon as possible. It’s natural to feel concerned when you see a change in your breast. The majority of the changes are harmless, but you should consult your doctor right away.
You should be on the lookout for the following changes:
- Arm movement can produce changes in the appearance, size, or shape of either breast.
- Any skin puckering, dimpling, or redness, or veins that are more visible than usual
- Soreness or discomfort in one breast or armpit, especially if it is new and persistent
- Any lumps or thickening in one breast that is not the same as the other
- Any lumps or swelling beneath your armpits or around your collarbone
- changes to your nipples, such as pulling inwards of nipples, changing their form, or showing signs of discharge, bleeding, redness, or crusty, dry skin
At Apollo Cancer Centre, Ahmedabad, we have a specialised team for treating cancers. If the problem persists, consult with our experts now.