Breasts change many times and in many ways over
a woman's lifetime. Your breasts may nourish children, be a source
of sexual pleasure, and may form part of your identity. Getting to
know how your breasts normally feel and look is the first step towards
promoting good breast health.
What are "normal" breasts?
Breasts, like women's bodies, come in all shapes and sizes. Their
tissue is varied, they change as you age, and the left one may
not look the same as the right. One breast may grow faster or larger
than the other. How your breasts feel and look can be affected
by many things including your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding,
menopause, and aging.
What can I do to have healthy breasts?
You can make lifestyle choices to improve your general health that
will also benefit your breasts. These include:
-
Being active and/or
exercising regularly
-
Eating a variety of low-fat, high-fibere
and whole grain foods
-
Eating at least 5 servings of dark green,
orange and red vegetables and fruits daily
-
Washing your fruits and vegetables, or buying
organic produce to reduce your exposure to potentially toxic
chemicals
-
Eating foods daily that are high in phytoestrogens
(plant estrogens or isoflavones) such as soy, lentils
and grains–these
foods have been linked in some studies to breast
cancer prevention
-
Not smoking
-
Limiting the amount of alcohol you drink
-
Limiting the caffeine you drink or eat–coffee,
tea, chocolate, cola and some other soft drinks contain relatively
high amounts
of caffeine.
In addition to these lifestyle choices, you may choose to:
Get to know what your breasts feel like so that you'll know what
is normal for you, and will recognize any changes that happen.
If you wear bras, wear comfortable loose-fitting bras.
Learn the best way to examine your own breasts.
Do I need to do Breast Self-Exams (BSEs)?
A 2001 study generated a great deal of debate about whether or
not it is worthwhile for women to perform Breast Self Exams
(BSEs). While
the experts still do not all agree on whether BSE should be taught
to women, the major medical organizations, such as the Canadian
Cancer Society and the Canadian Breast Cancer Network still
encourage women
to do a regular BSE.
Whether or not you choose to examine your
own breasts, it is important to have a doctor or nurse trained
in Clinical Breast Examination
examine your breasts thoroughly once a year for any changes
to your breasts.
If I have a lump or other changes in my breast, should I see my
doctor?
Some women are alarmed when they feel lumps or have pain in
their breasts. While you should check with your doctor when
you find a
lump or have pain, this does not necessarily mean that you
have a disease. Most breast lumps are not cancerous. Many things,
including
hormonal changes, can cause breast pain. Many women have breast
lumpiness or fibrocystic breasts. This can be caused by cysts
(tissue sacs
filled with liquid) and scarring of breast tissue. There is
no known link between this and breast cancer. However, it is
important to
see you doctor if you notice any of the following changes in
your breasts:
-
A lump or thickening
-
Unusual increase in the
size of one breast
-
Discharge from your nipples staining your
bra, clothes or bedclothes
-
Skin changes, including any changes
to a nipple
Should I have a mammogram?
Mammograms x-ray the breast and can detect a tumor long before it
can be felt by hand. As a screening tool, they are mostly used
for women 50-69 years old, but there are different opinions about
how effective they are for white and Asian women under 50. Mammography
is a highly controversial area. There have been studies recently
that studies that show that mammograms are not effective at preventing
deaths from breast cancer. However, other studies show they are
effective. It is recommended that women between the ages of 40
and 69 have mammograms every 1-2 years. For women at high risk
of breast cancer, mammograms are recommended for women aged 40-49.
Mammograms are not typically recommended for women under 40. If
you are concerned about whether or not to have a mammogram, discuss
this issue with your doctor.
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