October is the International
Breast Cancer Awareness month.
Breast Cancer is a disease which affects all of us more or less frequently by striking down someone in our families or among our friends, co-workers, neighbors and acquaintances. Although the disease can hit both sexes it is much more common among women.
Friday morning when I came to work all the staff was called to a gathering in the office lunchroom where we were informed that Helena, one of our co-workers and a friend of mine, had passed away late Thursday evening at the early age of 56.
The news did not come as a total surprise as Helena had been on sick leave for almost a year.
Helena started working with us two years ago and soon after discovered she had a lump in one of her breasts. She had had the disease about 15 years earlier so she immediately recognized what it was and sought treatment at once. This time the treatment was not at all successful and the cancer spread fast to her liver, lungs and skeleton.
Although Helena only worked with us for a short time she was well liked by all of us for her energetic, outgoing and positive personality. She was also a friend of mine and we would usually celebrate New Years Eve together with other friends.
We will all miss her strong personality and her kind spirit. I will miss a friend who was dear to me.
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Early detection is crucial for the success of treatment in Breast Cancer, as in many other diseases. Please make it a habit to regularly exam your breasts.
If you are a woman living in Sweden you should also make it a priority to go to the mammography check-ups offered by the public healthcare system at regular intervals.
The Five Steps of Breast Self Exam
Step 1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here's what you should look for:
· Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and color
· Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's attention:
· Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
· A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out) Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: While you're at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in Step 4.
