What is breast cancer?
Breast cancer is a malignant tumor that starts in the cells of the breast. A malignant tumor is a group of cancer cells that can grow into (invade) surrounding tissues or spread (metastasize) to distant areas of the body. The disease occurs almost entirely in women, but men can get it, too.
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin cancers. About 1 in 8 (12 percent) women in the U.S. will develop invasive breast cancer during their lifetime.
The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the U.S.:
About 232,670 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
About 62,570 new cases of carcinoma in situ will be diagnosed (CIS is non-invasive and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
About 40,000 women will die from breast cancer.
In 2013, the Womack Mammography Department performed 536 breast biopsies, 75 of these biopsies confirmed a breast cancer; one of the confirmed cases was a male patient.
ACS recommendations for early breast cancer detection:
Women 40 and older should have a mammogram every year for as long as they are in good health.
Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam as part of a regular health exam by a health professional, at least every three years.
Breast self-exam is an option for women 20 and older.
Women should report any breast changes to their health professional right away.
The ACS does not recommend MRI screening for women whose lifetime risk of breast cancer is less than 15 percent.
There is insuffficient evidence to make a recommendation for or against yearly MRI screening for women with a moderately increased risk of breast cancer (a lifetime risk of 15 to 20 percent according to risk assessment tools based mainly on Family history) or who may be at increased risk based on certain factors.
Self breast exams
While standing in front of a mirror with hands pressing firmly down on hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, dimpling, redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin. (The position contracts the chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.)
Examine each underarm while sitting up or standing and with your arm only slightly raised so you can easily feel in this area. Raising your arm straight up tightens the tissue in this area and makes it harder to examine.
There is some evidence to suggest that the up-and-down pattern (sometimes called the vertical pattern), is the most effective pattern for covering the entire breast, without missing any breast tissue.
Lie down and place your right arm behind your head. The exam is done while lying down, not standing up. This is because when lying down the breast tissue spreads evenly over the chest wall and is as thin as possible, making it much easier to feel all the breast tissue.
Use the finger pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping dime-sized circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast tissue.
Use three levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light pressure is needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin; medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. It is normal to feel a firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast, but you should tell your doctor if you feel anything else out of the ordinary. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse.
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