I love breasts!
Not new right? We all do. Still, I just had to let that out. I love them so much that I get hypnotized just by… well… *sigh*
That is not why we are here. We are here because of the enemy- breast cancer. Knowledge is power so let us arm ourselves.
The Breasts. The breasts are very important organs that find function for both motherhood and sexuality. Breasts are one of the things that put the ‘FE’ in FEMALE. Though some guys have breasts too, commonly known as’ man boobs’ (salute to Ricky Rozay #boss), the breast is more associated with the female gender.
Anyways, let’s get to business, the breast exists both in males and females though rudimentary in males. It consists of a hemispheric shaped area with the nipple sitting on the summit – the areola. As Kon from the Bleach anime would say: it’s the shape of happiness. The appearance of the breast begins a new phase in a girl’s life and a lot of changes happen to the breast from the first time it buds till the last breath of the owner.
From infancy to just before puberty, there is no difference between the female and male breasts. With the beginning of female puberty, however, the release of oestrogen (a hormone), causes the breasts to undergo dramatic changes which culminate in the fully mature form. This process, on average takes 3 to 4 years and is usually complete by age 16.
On average, there are 15 to 20 lobes in each breast, arranged roughly in a wheel spoke pattern emanating from the nipple area. This is responsible for the tenderness in this region that many women experience prior to their menstrual cycle. In preparation for pregnancy each month, the breast feels lumpy, increases in size, becomes painful, firm, engorged and sensitive.
The breasts are least engorged 7-10 days after the beginning of menstruation, when it is best to perform breast self-examination (BSE).
About 80 – 85% of normal breast tissue is fat during the reproductive years. Ligaments called Cooper’s ligaments keep the breasts in their characteristic shape and position and support breast tissue. In old age and during pregnancy, these ligaments become loose or stretched, respectively, and the breasts sag.
Now we know about our friend – the breast, let’s examine the enemy.
What is breast Cancer?
Cancer is a group of diseases that cause cells in the body to change and grow out of control. Most types of cancer cells eventually form a lump or mass called a tumor and are named after the part of d body where the tumor originates.
Breast cancer begins in breast tissue, glands for milk production, called lobules, & the ducts that connect the lobules to the nipple. The remainder of the breast is made up of fatty, connective, and lymphatic system. Most masses (tumors) are benign; that is, they are not cancerous, do not grow uncontrollably or spread, and are not life-threatening
How common is the enemy?
Breast cancer is one of the leading female cancers in the world. In Nigeria and other developing countries, it is the leading cancer in females. It’s a disease that has ruined lives, families, caused depression and mental health issues.
A woman has a 1 in 8 chance of developing breast cancer at some point in her life. It is the commonest cancer in Nigeria.
Who is at risk?
- Sex: breast cancer is more common in females though there are cases of breast cancer in males
- Age: breast cancer is more common in ages over 40yrs though it’s starts earlier more often in the black folks (between ages 19-34yrs)
- Genetic factors – Positive first degree family history
- Hormonal factor: Early menarche and late menopause
- Nulliparity -> especially never pregnant above age 35
- Use of hormonal contraceptives – Combined oral contraceptives for >3yrs continuously
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Obesity
- Alcohol, Tobacco smoking
Please note that there is usually interplay of risk factors for breast cancer to develop. However, there are strong risk factors which when present,require pro-active self-assessment. The strongest risk factor is the genetics (family history of the disease). if an individual’s mother has/had/died from breast cancer, there is a high probability that she can have it, even at a young age. if you have a positive family history of breast cancer, a monthly breast exam (Between day 7-10 of your menstrual cycle) can be that stitch that will save you.
Breast cancers can be in-situ or invasive. In situ are confined within the ducts or lobules where they originated. Most breast cancers are invasive, or infiltrating – started in the lobules or ducts of the breast but have broken through walls to invade the surrounding tissue. Microscopic analysis of breast tissue is necessary for a definitive diagnosis of breast cancer type (insitu or invasive). The seriousness of an invasive breast cancer is influenced by the stage of the disease; that is, how far it has spread when it is first diagnosed.
How do we identify and overcome the enemy?
Breast cancer typically produces no symptoms when the tumor is small and most are treatable (even curable). Therefore, it is very important for women to follow the recommended screening guidelines for detecting breast cancer at an early stage, before symptoms develop.
When breast cancer has grown to a size that can be felt, the most common physical sign is a painless lump. Less common signs and symptoms include breast pain; persistent changes like thickening or redness of d breast’s skin and nipple abnormalities. Other symptoms include spontaneous discharge (especially if bloody), nipple erosion, nipple inversion, or tenderness.
It is important to note that lump/pain (or lack thereof) does not indicate the presence or the absence of breast cancer.
Any abnormality in the breast should be evaluated by a doctor as soon as possible.
Now, Arm yourselves…
How to conduct a Self breast Examination (SBE 101)
Step 1
Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips
What you should look for:
Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling
Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
Step 2:
Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes mentioned above.
Step 3
While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of 1 or both nipples (watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood
Step 4
Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast
Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together
Use a circular motion. Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side-from your collarbone to d top of your abdomen and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts.
For the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure.
Use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breast.
Use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back
When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage
Step 5
Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting
Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4
Asides the much advocated self breast examination, mammography is another reliable screening method and should be done every two years in women over 40yrs.
People with family history of breast cancer should seek physicians’ advice on appropriate time to have it done.
Early detection is key in the management of breast cancer.
If you discover anything unusual in your breast, seek professional help immediately.
If unfortunately a cancer was detected, follow your physicians advice. Don’t ignore it. Even if you are a very spiritual person, please combine your prayers with their medical advice.
If, unfortunately, the breast has to be removed for you to live, I advise that you allow it. If you delay, it might get to a time when there is no choice but to take it off. Please be wise in making decisions. You can always opt for a silicon breast implant. You should know that silicon implants feels good to both touch and taste (based on errm… experience *cough* *cough*)
Phewww! OK so that’s it! Breast cancer is a monster of sorrow, so ladies please be cautious and do breast examinations monthly. We have lost too many breasts and their owners to this monster.
Before I go…
Let me share this story with you…there was this 24 year old, fine, sexy, sweet girl who was diagnosed of stage 1 breast cancer in the left. At that stage, she could have had that breast removed and she would have most likely been fine. She opted for spiritual healing. She came back about a year later with stage 3 disease. At this time, removal alone could not help. In fact, there was no cure again at this stage. Now she has to deal with the pain of chemotherapy, hair loss and other issues associated with the management of the disease. A stitch in time could have saved her from all this.
If I could rub a magic lamp and a genie came out to grant me wishes….my first would be for breast cancer and all other cancers to disappear.
Ladies, please, for the love of breasts, do this
And this
So that we can all keep smiling. We don’t want to lose any one else to the enemy.
Peace!
– Awoyokun M.D. (@awomike)
Glimmer of Hope Foundation 