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check for breast cancer

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Q: did i check for breast cancer correctly?
i checked my breasts the way it is instructed laying down then checkin in a circular motion and i didnt feel a bump but if i squeeze it with my thumb on the top and my four fingers on the bottom i feel a verry large hardish ball on both. the right feels bigger then the other what does this mean?
thank you all for your help and yes its ok for guys to answer just dont be rude please i am a bit worried but thank you again for the help you can offer

A: A number of things to address here.

First, most breast lumps aren’t cancer – around 80% of breast lumps that are investigated are benign. And many women have naturally lumpy breasts.

Secondly, i see from your Q&A that you’re around 20 years old. You need to know that breast cancer at your age is almost unheard of – it’s almost unknown in under 25s and fewer than 0.1% of all those diagnosed are under 30; only 5% are under 40 and most (80%) are over 50.

So the chances of you having breast cancer are close to zero – and the chances of you having it in both breasts are even smaller.

Here is an illustrated guide to how to do a breast self-examinarion from breastcancer.org

http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps.jsp

Q: Self-check for breast cancer – some questions?
Hi, I just wanted to know a bit more info about this and some help if possible.

I have tried doing this at home by myself, and I have tried getting my husband to do it too but I find it excrutiating…I think this comes down to abuse as a child and a fear of finding a lump and so each time I almost feel like throwing up with fear and I cry also – it is also very uncomfortable for me as I am quite big chested and they are always fairly sensitive.

I have in the past got a doctor to check them but I am in my late 20’s and am wondering if this is not normal (ie. they will think I am strange).
Any advice at all – eg. do other people out there routinely get the doctor to check them? Any psychological help? Is there a difference if you are big chested like will a self-test not be likely to reveal much anyway? What else can I do then? Thanks

A: I understand your fear but it’s great that your self-checking and you should continue with this. I personally do it in the shower in the morning, it takes 2-3 mins and has become routine a bit like washing.
You can ask a doctor to check them but it’s easier for everyone if you just learn to do it yourself.
Maybe you should consider counselling anyway since you obviously have issues that you need to work through.

Q: how do I know if I have breast cancer?
I’m 16 and I’m wondering how I could check for breast cancer. I’ve been doing the tests but I’m not exactly sure what a “hard lump” is…I’ve also been having white dry stuff on the tip of my nipple and I was wondering if it was normal.

A: You will feel the bump if there is one, but if you think something is up, go to the doctors; and the white stuff is normal, I get it also.

Q: Coincidence that the gov’t. is now saying not to check for breast cancer until later in life?
That will save the health care system tons of money. Plus not having to take care of all the woman that will die later in life. It’s win-win for Obamacare!
Well ladies, the government has moved from your unborn to your breasts. You going to go tell Obama and Co. to leave your bodies alone and let you do what you want? Or will you support the socialist takeover and allow yourselves to die in droves?

http://www.cnn.com/2009/HEALTH/11/17/breast.cancer.self.exams/index.html

CNN good enough for those that don’t read the news? Yahoo also covered the AP feed on it:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091117/ap_on_bi_ge/us_med_mammogram_advice

Not Fox, Not Beck. Happy?
Wow, the morons really show themselves fast? Immediately crying for a source(any news outlet) and playing the Beck card….

A: Women will still have monograms in their 30/40s for breast cancer. I would worry more about insurance companies not covering the test before a certain age. Be just like them to do that.*

Q: for breast cancer, how do you check your breast for lumps?

A: How do I check for lumps?
Start by standing in front of a mirror. Look at your breasts with your arms at your side, with your arms raised behind your head, and with your arms on your hips and your chest muscles flexed.

Next, lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder. Put your left hand behind your head and feel your left breast with the pads of the 3 middle fingers on your right hand. Start at the outer edge and work around your breast in small circles, getting closer to your nipple with each circle. After you’ve finished checking your breast, squeeze your nipple gently and look for discharge (fluid coming out of the nipple).

Do the same thing to your right breast with a pillow under your right shoulder.

Be sure to include the area up to your collarbone and out to your armpit. You have lymph nodes in this area. Cancer can spread to lymph node tissue.

Q: ideas for breast cancer. please check it out.?
my college be having a meeting to plan the events for the Breast Cancer Awareness activities and they want from us the students to give brilliant ideas in almost anything. we need ideas for posters, and anything else we could probably sell to gain money and give for the charity. so please, any little idea would help. just keep suggesting creative ideas. thanks in advance.

A: What about a stall selling ‘gifts to give’ that visitors can take to friends who are in hospital or sick? Wrap up a selection of things in a pretty box – and use lots of cellophane and floaty ribbon.

You could suggest these might be kept in store cupboard to have to hand when needed.

If you go to www.after-cancer.com – almost any of the products mentioned would do – and you might be able to ask suppliers for samples – which would be free.

Good luck

Verite R

Q: Should I get checked for breast cancer?
My grandmother and aunt both on my mother’s side have had breast cancer more than once. Two years ago my mother had a breast cancer scare, where she ended up having half her breast removed because she had a tumor they suspected to be cancerous (it wasn’t).
I’m 18 and I was wondering with that family history should I be getting checked for breast cancer anytime soon.

A: Hereditary breast cancer is suspected when there is a strong family history of breast cancer: occurrences of the disease in at least three first or second-degree relatives (sisters, mothers, aunts). Currently the only tests available are DNA tests to determine whether an individual in such a high-risk family has a genetic mutation in the BRCA1 or BRCA2 genes.

When someone with a family history of breast cancer has been tested and found to have an altered BRCA1 or BRCA2 gene, the family is said to have a “known mutation.” Positive test results only provide information about the risk of developing breast cancer. The test cannot tell a person whether or when cancer might develop. Many, but not all, women and some men who inherit an altered gene will develop breast cancer. Both men and women who inherit an altered gene, whether or not they develop cancer themselves, can pass the alteration on to their sons and daughters.

But even if the test is negative, the individual may still have a predisposition to hereditary breast cancer. Currently available technique can’t identify all cancer-predisposing mutations in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Or, an individual may have inherited a mutation caused by other genes. And, because most cases of breast cancer are not hereditary, individuals may develop breast cancer whether or not a genetic mutation is present.

I would therefore suggest you to see your doctor and get the evaluation tests done preriodically (atleast once in two years now and every year afterwords) to ensure that you are free from the disease. Since you are only 18 years old now you need not worry for some more years. – Best wishes.

” OCTOBER IS BREAST CANCER AWARENESS MONTH – PLEASE SPREAD AWARENESS ” -

Q: While pregnant, can you get your breasts checked for breast cancer?
Okay, when I first went to my doctor, I asked him if I could get my breast checked for cancer. I told him that we have a bad family history of it, my grandfather had four sisters and THREE died of breast cancer, and that I have had these lumps in my breasts WELL before I got pregnant. Well he told me no, that while pregnant your breasts change and that I would have to wait till after I get done breast feeding. But I was reading a book about being pregnant and what not and in there it says that you can get them checked, that they will put like a lead shield over your tummy for a mammogram. I wanna know if my doctor is being a dumb fuck or what. I need to get them checked, I am on medicaid and only have it till October. With my family history I am really scared, it likes to skip a generation, and my mom doesn’t have lumps or cancer. PLEASE SOMEONE HELP, ITS BAD ENOUGH THAT I WORRY ABOUT EVERYTHING! I see him on june 8th, and either I am going to demand it, or go to a diff. doctor to get them checked out.
*Note, I said that they can put a lead shield over your tummy to protect the baby*

A: The fact your grandfather had 3 sisters with breast cancer has almost zero impact on your risk for it. Also, cancer does not skip a generation. Your doctor is right. Even in cases where women are breastfeeding they must stop before a mammogram is done as they will not get a good reading. There is no point in putting a pregnant woman through tests that are not medically necessary and this is not necessary. You can try a different doctor if you wish, but I really doubt you will get one to agree no matter how much you may demand.

Q: should i get myself checked for breast cancer?
i am 19. suddenly my right breast has started appearing slightly larger than my left breast. it also hurts a little and i can feel a lump. no one in family has had breast cancer.

A: Yes, def go see a dr,please!
If the dr you go see doesn’t want to help you , some drs think because you are young its nothing. I urge you to get a 2nd opinon, even if your dr. is helpful.
Good luck to yoU!

Q: What type of doctor checks for breast cancer?

A: Your family practice doctor can check, but usually your breasts are checked at your annual exam with the GYN.

Q: i am going for my first check up after breast cancer what can i expect?

A: …There are five important things that could happen:-
1)The cancer can be in complete remission,
2)A few lymphnodes could still be palpable in the axillary area,
3)Or the tumor could be in partial remission i.e. just a small part of the small tumor could be still active warranting further chemo or surgery,
4)If there is no evidence of active tumor the physician/ surgeon could advise for breast reconstruction if it has been heavily scarred/decreased in appropriate size or unequal in the 2 sides.
5)The doctor will advise for a few tests like mammography/Chest xray/USG of breast/CT scan prior to the above
It all depends though on how your breast looks or feels in the clinical exam.

Q: Could you be 18 and have breast cancer?
I notice this little tiny knot on my breast…it isnt really with in the tissue..I can actually see it when looking at my breast…to me it looks like a tiny bump…smaller than a pea…not very very small…just smaller than a pea… but when i touch it, it feels like a knot… is it possile that this could be breast cancer? My gynecologist checked my breast for lumps back in december and said everything was cool…but now its two months later…could this be the onset of breast cancer?

A: Its probably honestly just a cyst and has to do with your menstrual cycle.

HOWEVER, cancer does not disrciminate by age. I highly recommend making an apt with your doc and having it checked out.

Q: At what age do you normally start getting breast exams?
I’m talking about the kind of exams where they check for breast cancer and whatnot. Cause I’m young-ish but i’m not really looking forward to that anytime soon. Also, what exactly do they do there?

A: Clinical breast are recommended starting at age 20. Mammograms are recommended starting at age 40. When doctors perform a breast exam, they will have you lay on your back with your arm over your head (same side as the breast they are examining) and they will walk their fingers over your breast, pushing in slightly to feel the tissue beneath the skin to feel for lumps or something that doesn’t feel normal. Unless you are having sensitive breasts at the time, it doesn’t hurt. It may feel weird or tickle. And it only takes a couple minutes to check both.

You can help your doctor by performing a breast self-exam once a month. If you started before age 20, it wouldn’t hurt you as you’d get a better understanding of what’s normal for your breasts. If you would like more info on how to perform a breast self-exam, I’ve included a link for you that teaches you exactly how to do it. Toward the bottom of the page are links to the BSE tool in three different languages: English, Spanish and Hindi.

Q: Do I have breast cancer?
okay, so there’s this small lump, REALLY small, and it’s been there for like a year or two. So I don’t think it’s serious, and I have a mole on my right boob too. The lump and mole on the right boob.

My left breast has been hurting since around 9 this morning. I think I’m just growing, but I called my mom about it and she said to check for breast cancer.

I don’t know a lot about breast cancer, so can anyone clarify for me?

A: Well, just because you feel a lump, doesn’t mean it’s cancer. It could be a cyst or an infection. It might be a tumor which is extra cells that form tissue. Not all tumors are cancerous!

Other symptoms are tenderness, scaly, red, or swollen breasts, and nipple discharge. It’ll be best for you to see your doctor if you get any other symptoms.

if you’re still very young, it would explain your breast hurting.

You should still bring up the lump at your next doctor’s appointment.

I hope it’s nothing serious!

Q: is it normal for someone age 16 to get a check up for breast cancer?

A: It is a young age to be routinely checked, as most are not at a high risk, but if you have any indications leading you to believe you have it, or just worried, definitely tell the doc, and they can check you out. Take care!

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