October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month so due to that, we thought that an article was in order so that we could compound all the knowledge we gathered this month and make an easy-to-understand guide.
This year, the focus is on screening being available for everyone!!
Disclaimer: Midwifery is a very inclusive and safe space for everyone, where your identity and your needs are valid and important to us. Thus, the terms used in this article aim towards making everyone feel comfortable and included.
Uterus owner (person with a uterus, uterus-having person) <--> person with female genitalia
Pregnant person (female, male or non-binary) <--> the person who carries the baby in their womb
[if you feel that you are not included at any point, please contact us and help us change that]
© NIKOLETA CHATZIPANAGIOTIDOU, SOME RIGHTS RESERVED 11/11/2022
Statistics (BCRF, 2021)
Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide—surpassing lung cancer for the first time in 2020—and the most common cancer diagnosed in American women. It is a leading cause of cancer death in less developed countries and the second leading cause of cancer death in American women.
More specifically, in 2020, more than 2.3 million women were diagnosed with breast cancer worldwide. (Every 14 seconds, somewhere in the world, a woman is diagnosed with breast cancer.)
What is the five-year survival rate for breast cancer?
The overall five-year relative survival rate is 99% for localized disease, 86% for regional disease, and 30% for distant-stage disease.
Has the breast cancer survival rate improved?
Since 1975, the breast cancer five-year relative survival rate has increased significantly for both black and white people. While a substantial gap remains, especially for late-stage diagnoses, the racial disparity seems to be narrowing. In the most recent period, the five-year relative survival rate was 83% for black women and 92% for white women.
Basic Information about Breast Cancer (CDC,2022)
Breast cancer is a disease in which cells in the breast grow out of control. There are different kinds of breast cancer.
The most common kinds of breast cancer are:
Invasive ductal carcinoma. The cancer cells begin in the ducts and then grow outside the ducts into other parts of the breast tissue. Invasive cancer cells can also spread, or metastasize, to other parts of the body.
Invasive lobular carcinoma. Cancer cells begin in the lobules and then spread from the lobules to the breast tissues that are close by. These invasive cancer cells can also spread to other parts of the body.
There are several other less common kinds of breast cancer, such as Paget’s disease, medullary, mucinous, and inflammatory breast cancer.
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is a breast disease that may lead to invasive breast cancer. The cancer cells are only in the lining of the ducts, and have not spread to other tissues in the breast.
Different people have different symptoms of breast cancer. Some people do not have any signs or symptoms at all.
Some warning signs of breast cancer are:
New lump in the breast or underarm (armpit).
Thickening or swelling of part of the breast.
Irritation or dimpling of breast skin.
Redness or flaky skin in the nipple area or the breast.
Pulling in of the nipple or pain in the nipple area.
Nipple discharge other than breast milk, including blood.
Any change in the size or the shape of the breast.
Pain in any area of the breast.
Keep in mind that these symptoms can happen with other conditions that are not cancer.
Who Is at High Risk for Breast Cancer?
If you have a strong family history of breast cancer or inherited changes in your BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes, you may have a high risk of getting breast cancer. You may also have a high risk for ovarian cancer.
What Is Breast Cancer Screening? (CDC,2022)
Breast cancer screening means checking a woman’s breasts for cancer before there are signs or symptoms of the disease. All women need to be informed by their healthcare provider about the best screening options for them.
Although breast cancer screening cannot prevent breast cancer, it can help find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat.
Self-Exam (Mayo Clinic, 2022)
Self-exam is an inspection of your breasts that you do on your own. To help increase your breast awareness, you use your eyes and hands to determine if there are any changes to the look and feel of your breasts.
To prepare for your breast self-exam for breast awareness:
Ask your doctor for a demonstration. Before you begin breast self-exams for breast awareness, you may find it helpful to discuss the instructions and technique with your doctor.
If you menstruate, choose a time in your cycle when your breasts are least tender. Your hormone levels fluctuate each month during your menstrual cycle, which causes changes in breast tissue. Swelling begins to decrease when your period starts. The best time to perform a self-exam for breast awareness is usually the week after your period ends.
Sit or stand shirtless and braless in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. To inspect your breasts visually, do the following:
Face forward and look for puckering, dimpling, or changes in size, shape or symmetry.
Check to see if your nipples are turned in (inverted).
Inspect your breasts with your hands pressed down on your hips.
Inspect your breasts with your arms raised overhead and the palms of your hands pressed together.
Lift your breasts to see if the ridges along the bottom are symmetrical.
If you have a vision impairment that makes it difficult for you to visually inspect your breasts, ask a trusted friend or a family member to help you.
Common ways to perform the manual part of the breast exam include:
Lying down. Choose a bed or other flat surface to lie down on your back. When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out, making it thinner and easier to feel.
In the shower. Lather your fingers and breasts with soap to help your fingers glide more smoothly over your skin.
When examining your breasts, some general tips to keep in mind include:
Use the pads of your fingers. Use the pads, not the very tips, of your three middle fingers for the exam. If you have difficulty feeling with your finger pads, use another part of your hand that is more sensitive, such as your palm or the backs of your fingers.
Use different pressure levels. Your goal is to feel different depths of the breast by using different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Use light pressure to feel the tissue closest to the skin, medium pressure to feel a little deeper, and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. Be sure to use each pressure level before moving on to the next spot. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse.
Take your time. Don't rush. It may take several minutes to carefully examine your breasts.
Follow a pattern. Use a methodical technique to ensure you examine your entire breast. For instance, imagine the face of a clock over your breast or the slices of a pie. Begin near your collarbone and examine that section, moving your fingers toward your nipple. Then move your fingers to the next section.
If you have a disability that makes it difficult to examine your breasts using this technique, you likely can still conduct a breast self-exam. Ask your doctor to show you ways you can examine your breasts.
Mammogram
A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast. For many women, mammograms are the best way to find breast cancer early, when it is easier to treat and before it is big enough to feel or cause symptoms. Having regular mammograms can lower the risk of dying from breast cancer. At this time, a mammogram is the best way to find breast cancer for most women of screening age.
Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A breast MRI uses magnets and radio waves to take pictures of the breast. Breast MRI is used along with mammograms to screen women who are at high risk for getting breast cancer. Because breast MRIs may appear abnormal even when there is no cancer, they are not used for women at average risk.
Conclusion
In conclusion, we can all agree that breast cancer is a matter that has to be taken seriously! Self-examination can save lives as it can help diagnose breast cancer in its very early stage. You should not neglect your yearly checks as well, always according to your doctor's advice.
The month of October is dedicated to "Breast Cancer Awareness" and is here to remind us all to inform ourselves and take care of our bodies!
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The “Being a Midwife” team
Reference list
Breast Cancer Research Foundation. (2016). Breast Cancer Statistics And Resources. [online] Available at: https://www.bcrf.org/breast-cancer-statistics-and-resources/.
CDC (2019). CDC - what is breast cancer screening? [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/screening.htm.
CDC (2020). CDC - What Are the Symptoms of Breast Cancer? [online] Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Available at: https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/breast/basic_info/symptoms.htm.
Clinic (2018). Breast self-exam for breast awareness - mayo clinic. [online] Mayoclinic.org. Available at: https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-exam/about/pac-20393237.
National Breast Cancer Foundation. (n.d.). Breast Cancer Awareness Month. [online] Available at: https://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-cancer-awareness-month/.