Knowing what is normal for your body can save your life. The early stages of breast cancer, especially those found from self-screening, are the most successfully treated. Become familiar with your breast tissue by looking at and feeling your breasts each month to learn what is normal for your body. There is no right or wrong way to check your breasts, as long as you learn the entire area of your breast tissue – from your collarbone to under your armpits and nipples – well enough to notice any changes.
Breast awareness is crucial to prevention and early detection. The MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial urges you to report these eight breast changes that you may find in a monthly exam to your doctor:
- Lump, hard knot or thickening inside the breast or underarm area
- Swelling, warmth, redness or darkening of the breast
- Change in the size or shape of the breast
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin
- Itchy, scaly rash or sore on the nipple
- Pulling in of your nipple or other parts of the breast
- Nipple discharge that starts suddenly
- New pain in one spot that doesn’t go away
With state-of-the-art detection, treatment and technology for women in every stage of breast health, the MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial is dedicated to advancing the care, and early diagnosis, of breast cancer. Our accredited center has been recognized by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers. With three women sub-specialized, fellowship trained breast radiologists, and the newest technologies, the Breast Center is able to provide total breast care.
The MemorialCare Breast Center recently relocated to the Todd Cancer Pavilion. An entire floor is dedicated to women’s cancer care for breast and gynecologic cancer patients. The calming, healing environment was designed with women in mind. There are separate dressing rooms for women coming in for exams and women coming in for treatment, reducing anxieties and fears. Once dressed in a plush Breast Center robe, women can relax in the comfortable sitting room to wait for the technologist to come get them. The ultrasound rooms are complete with beautiful skylights, to keep the environment calming.
At the Breast Center, patients have access to advanced digital mammography through a computer-aided detection system, available at only about eight percent of breast imaging centers in the United States. For comprehensive breast care, services include screening and diagnostic mammography, breast ultrasound and MRI, needle biopsies, ductography and tumor localizations — giving patients a convenient location where their entire work-up can be performed in one appointment, including a biopsy if necessary.
“Our ability to provide these crucial services in a ‘one-stop shop’ for breast care takes the stress from our patients and makes them more comfortable with their treatments,” says Sandy Lopez, program director, MemorialCare Breast Center, Long Beach Memorial.
In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, Long Beach Memorial is offering “Breast Happy Hours” every Wednesday in October from 4 – 6 p.m. at the MemorialCare Breast Center in the Todd Cancer Pavilion at Long Beach Memorial. Those who come in for a mammogram during the “Happy Hours” will have a chance to win prizes — from spa robes to gift certificates.
Cancer doesn’t discriminate. Some women are genetically predisposed to the disease. Most women diagnosed with breast cancer have no risk factors other than being female. Many lead healthy lives and have no symptoms until a mammogram detects an abnormality. Others find an unfamiliar change in the breast and seek care. By educating yourself on the signs and symptoms, performing monthly self-exams and getting regular clinical breast exams and mammograms you can reduce your chance of diagnosis or increase the likelihood that if breast cancer is diagnosed that it is found early and is curable.