Breast Cancer Awareness Month: Critical Early Detection

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month and soon we will be in the midst of pink ribbons everywhere. The international health campaign increases awareness of the disease and raises funds for research into its cause, prevention, diagnosis, treatment and cure. Since breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women in our country – one in every 8 women develops the disease, it is an extremely crucial topic for all of us!

The best attack against breast cancer is with early detection, which is why routine breast self-exams, annual check-ups and mammograms are critical.  As woman, it is important that we be proactive and help spread the word on breast cancer awareness – tell your mom, sisters, friends and daughters.

Here are some early warning signs to be aware of during at home self-breast exams:

Detection of a Lump: All women should regularly perform a self-breast exam by using their fingers to apply pressure to the breasts and surrounding tissues. Both non-cancerous (benign) and cancerous (malignant) lumps may form in the collarbone, near the site of the lymph nodes, under the armpit and around the nipples.

Breast Tenderness: Breast tumors will range in pain—if they cause noticeable discomfort at all. It’s more common for a lump to develop in small, seed-like structure along the breast tissue, which may be noticeable when you’re lying down or by feeling friction from your bra.

Nipple Changes: An underlying breast tumor (i.e., a tumor that develops underneath the nipple) can also cause your nipples to change in a visual manner as well. Your partner may notice your nipple has become inverted, flat, indented, or asymmetrical in shape.

Dimpled Breast Tissue: Thickening that feels different from the surrounding tissue can occur in the earliest stages of breast cancer development. For instance, the skin over the breasts may become red or dimpled, or even appear pitted—similar to the skin that covers an orange.

Breast Size Change: It’s common for a breast tumor to alter the shape or size of an affected breast before you feel that telltale lump. So along with self-exams for breast lumps, be sure to visually check the shape and size of your breasts in a mirror and take heed when you put on your bra.  If you are planning on plastic surgery for your breasts, be sure it’s with a board-certified surgeon.  Modern-day plastic surgery is safe, including breast augmentations in Scottsdale, LA, Chicago and New York.

Thank you to Brittany Deatherage for sharing this information about a topic that is so important for women everywhere. In regards to breast health, it truly is a matter of “The More You Know”, and it’s an honor to contribute to the cause of awareness through The Mom of the Year!

Image credit: depositphotos.com, image ID:52786857, copyright:piotr_marcinski

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Meredith

Meredith blogs at The Mom of the Year, where she dedicatedly earns her title one epic parenting fail at a time, offering quick, relatable laughs for fellow parents and all their empathizers. She has been part of several best-selling anthologies, featured on prominent sites such as Huffington Post, In the Powder Room and BlogHer, and loves her role as the Executive VP/Operations Manager of The BlogU Conference. When she's not breaking up fights over Legos and juice boxes, she remains fully committed to sharing a less serious look at the world of parenting.

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