BREAST SELF EXAMINATION (BSE)

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INTRODUCTION

PATIENT: Hello doc, what does breast self examination means?

DOCTOR: Self Breast Examinaton simply means "examining your breast by yourself".


PATIENT: But why do i need to examine my breast by myself, I mean of what significance is it.

DOCTOR: It will get you familiar with your normal breast and in turn help you detect early enough some specific changes (dangerous signs) which you must report to a doctor in order to prevent the development of a "full blown" breast cancer or other breast diseases and their deleterious complications.

PATIENT: Hmm... but how do I go about it. The whole stuff, what are the equipments needed. What are those dangerous signs,  I'm not really clear on this.

DOCTOR: Okay ma, calm down, I'll explain everything thing to you.
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[Read more about Breast Cancer Here ===>http://www.fgiclinic.com/2016/05/breast-cancer.html#more]

Self Breast Examination is a simple act that must be learnt by ALL females. Not only knowing how to perfom it is important but also turning it into a habit and inculcating it.

John Hopkins hospital fact sheet shows that about 40% of breast cancer cases diagnosed there were from the early detection and reporting made by the patients.


HOW TO PERFORM SELF BREAST EXAMINATION.

Self Breast Examination entails 2 things;

1. Visual inspection for obvious breast changes. 
2. Feeling the breast for lump. 

1. INSPECTION
For you to be able to observe the two breasts clearly. You will need to stand in front of a mirror.

While standing in front of the mirror, visually inspect the two breast;

i.  with your hands raised, check for;

• changes in the contours
• Swelling
• Skin dimpling
• Nipple changes. 

ii. while standing at a akimbo and tensing your hands against your hip, check for;

• Skin dimpling and puckering. 

2. FEEL THE BREAST FOR LUMP.

i. While lying down,

Feel for lump in the breasts one at a time. 

Using the pad of your right 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers put together feel for your left breast and with the pad of your left 2nd, 3rd and 4th fingers put together feel for your right breast. 

THE BLACK CIRCLES INDICATING THE PAD OF THE FINGER.

To ensure that you've covered the entire breast, you can follow either of these 2 patterns,

1. Circular motion- starting from the nipple, move in larger and larger circles till you reach the outer edge of the breast. 
2. Up and Down motion- starting from one edge of the breast, move your fingers vertically till you reach the other edge. Like the movement of a lawn mower. 

UP & DOWN MOTION AND CIRCULAR MOTION

Always remember to feel the armpits for lump because the breast tissues extends into it.

ii. While standing or sitting. 

Repeat everything thing you've done while lying down. Some people prefer to do this while in the shower. 

HOW OFTEN SHOULD IT BE PERFOMED? 

Self Breast Examination should be performed at least once in EVERY month.

WHAT IS THE BEST TIME TO PERFOM IT? 

The best time is immediately after menstruation. 

WHAT SHOULD I DO IF I NOTICE ANY OF THESE DANGER SIGNS

Report to a hospital as soon as possible. 

PATIENT: Thank you so much doctor, now I understand and can carry out self breast examination. 

DOCTOR: You are welcome ma.

CONCLUSION. 

Knowing how to perfom self breast examination is a MUST for all females and now that you've read through this article, see it as a duty to share it with other people. We are in the time that the incidence of Breast cancer is on the increase (Read about Breast Cancer on this blog in Women's Health label to see why it's on the increase and what can be done). Thank you.