A self-breast examination involves observing, feeling, and monitoring changes in the shape and texture of your breasts. This practice can help you detect breast cancer at an early stage and is thus a recommended screening tool. By routinely performing self-breast examinations, you can easily identify changes, such as the development of a lump or small mass in your breast, prompting a timely consultation with your doctor. The key to effective self-examination is education. Understand how to perform it correctly, using the pads of your fingers rather than the tips. While palpating your breasts, vary the pressure applied to feel for any changes. ALSO READ: How can Rwanda increase funding for cancer treatment? You can conduct a self-breast examination while standing or lying down. It may be more effective to lie down, as this position allows the breast tissue to spread more evenly and enables better palpation of the tissues. Experience is crucial for mastering the self-breast examination technique. The more frequently you examine your breasts, the more familiar you will become with their normal texture and any potential changes. It is advisable to consult your doctor for further guidance on monitoring changes over time. The best time to perform a self-breast examination is usually 3 to 4 days after your menstrual period, as hormonal changes during menstruation can affect breast tissue. ALSO READ: Top 10 most common cancers in Rwanda During an examination, whether performed by a clinician or self-administered, pay close attention to the axilla (underarm) and supraclavicular (above the breast) areas. These regions have a high concentration of lymph nodes draining the breast. When cancer develops or spreads in breast tissue, these channels often play a significant role. Breast cancer is one of the most manageable malignancies, thanks to the breast's anatomical structure, the clinical manifestations of the disease, and the tools available for detection and staging. Screening and early detection tools for breast cancer are accessible and affordable in many modern healthcare settings. Regular awareness campaigns on self-breast examination techniques are essential for community education. Understanding how your breasts are formed is vital. By inspecting (looking) and palpating (feeling), you can distinguish between normal and abnormal breast tissue. This routine self-assessment can help you recognize any potential lumps or masses developing within the breast. In clinical settings, mammograms are among the most common tools for assessing breast cancer. A mammogram is a specialized X-ray of the breast that helps identify tumors or masses that are too small to detect by feel, such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). DCIS involves the presence of abnormal cells in the lining of the breast ducts, and most cases can develop into invasive cancer. Mammograms are more recommended for post-menopausal or older women compared to younger women, as dense breast tissue in younger individuals can appear white on a mammogram, making interpretation more challenging. Diagnosis of breast cancer relies on a combination of clinical examination, imaging, and confirmed pathological assessments. Clinical breast examinations often include bi-manual palpation of both breasts, evaluation of nearby lymph nodes, and checks for potential distant metastases in the bones, liver, and lungs. Essential imaging techniques used in breast cancer clinics include bilateral mammography and breast ultrasound, along with assessments of regional lymph nodes. Although magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is not routinely recommended for breast cancer, it may be necessary in specific cases, such as for individuals with breast implants, lobular cancers, or those with a family history of breast cancer associated with BRCA mutations. MRI is also beneficial for evaluating responses to primary systemic therapy or addressing inconclusive findings from conventional imaging, such as positive axillary lymph nodes with an unknown breast primary tumor. Breast cancer patients typically require thorough pre-treatment evaluations. This includes pathological assessments of the primary tumor and cytological or histological evaluations of the axillary nodes if involvement is suspected. By prioritizing self-breast examinations and understanding breast health, we can empower individuals to take charge of their health and support early cancer detection.
