By: Homayoon Sanati, M.D., medical director, MemorialCare Breast Center, Long Beach Memorial

Knowing your body can save your life. The early stages of breast cancer, especially those found from self-screening, are the most successfully treated. Many diagnosed women discover their own breast cancer through changes in the look and feel of their breasts. You can 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 your nipples – well enough to notice any changes.

Breast awareness is crucial to prevention and early detection. 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 sore or rash 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

While numerous risk factors exist that we cannot control, leading a healthy lifestyle can help lower your chances of getting breast cancer. Many factors are linked to your risk for breast cancer. Simply being a woman and getting older increase this risk.

The risk of being diagnosed increases with age, particularly after menopause. You should always inform a physician as soon as possible if you notice any unusual changes in your body.

By adopting healthy behaviors and being proactive with your breast care, you can help to lower the possibility of a cancer diagnosis.

Follow these helpful tips to stay one step ahead:

Know Your Risk

  • Learn about your family health history, especially cancer
  • Talk to a physician about your personal risk of breast cancer

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

  • Maintain a healthy weight
  • Add exercise into your routine
  • Limit alcohol
  • Limit postmenopausal hormone use
  • Breastfeed if possible

By educating yourself on the controllable factors that increase risk and paying attention to your breasts, 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. That is showing breast cancer who’s boss.

Be sure to make time to squeeze in your mammogram. Call 800-MEMORIAL to schedule your mammogram at the MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Memorial.