Breast Cancer is a tumour that begins in the breast tissue. There are several types of breast cancer. The majority (80%) of breast lumps are benign. However, you should not ignore a lump. There is still a 20% chance that it is malignant. If left too long, this overgrowth of malignant cells could spread and the chances of a cure begin to fall. Furthermore, the more advanced the cancer, the more extensive the treatment required.

Breast Health Education

Breast Health Education aims to help adolescent girls and women to understand the facts related to the breast and to familiarize with the normal changes in their breast. They could learn to recognize signs of early breast cancer.

Estimated new cases and deaths from breast cancer in the United States in 2009:
New cases: 192,370 (female); 1,910 (male)
Deaths: 40,170 (female); 440 (male)

*Information from U.S National Institutes of Health

When to do familiarization

*7 -10 days after first day of menstruation
*If no longer menstruating, or very irregular menstruation – pick a day, e.g., first day of the month.

Signs of an Ill-Fitting Bra
*Breasts bulging at the top, sides or bottom of the bra
*Underwire digging into your skin
*Centre of front of bra does not lie against your chest
*Straps always falling off your shoulders
*Cup wrinkles
*Bra comes away from your body when you lift your arms

Early Detection and Screening

Screening
The term ‘screening’ refers to tests and examinations used to find a disease (such as cancer) in people who do not have any symptoms. The goal is to find the disease early before it has a chance to spread. The size of the tumour and how far it has spread are the most important factors determining the final outcome for the patient.

Therefore, the early detection of breast cancer can be the key to survival or in other words, the earlier the cancer is found, the better the chances that treatment will work.

Breast self-examinations (BSE), clinical breast examinations (by a trained doctor or health care professional) and screening mammography are therefore important in detecting breast cancer at an early stage.

Who should be screened?
Screening can be done on:

*the whole population at risk (all women above 18 years of age) or

*on the population at highest risk.
1.women with a past history of breast or ovarian cancer,
2.women with a family history of one or more first or second degree
3.relatives with breast cancer before the age of 50 years,
4.women in the age group of highest incidence, above 40 years,
5.women on Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT)

The guidelines on screening for breast cancer vary from country to country. These guidelines are drawn-up by health and economic professionals based on the incidence statistics, the ‘at risk’ population, available medical resources (including personnel and equipment) as well as the country’s economic resources.