Breast Cancer........?

529>I think i found a lump in my breast, but im not to sure, i know there is a way u can check ur self.. but im just not to sure how to do it, could some one PLEASE tell me how to do it myself.... also if iu do have breast cancer does ur breast hurt/sting?








serious answers only.. and please dont tell me to go to the doctor.. i wanna do it myself first.
Reply:can't do it yourself. the doctor can't hardly do it. it depends on your age if the doctor feels something, he will order a mammogram, if something shows up a ultrasound is ordered. breast cancer usually does not hurt. most lumps are cysts and are harmless. cysts can be painful.
Reply:no
Reply:Unless you are a doctor you should not try to diagnose yourself. Catching cancer at an early stage is what saves people. This is nothing to play around with, see a doctor asap and have a mamogram.
Reply:If you think you found a lump, you really need to get to a doctor now!!!! But just remember it may not even be cancer, it could be just a fibrous lump. This would be nothing to worry about. But I do urge you to get to a doctor now. Do not let this go. Good Luck!
Reply:start near your armpit and apply 3 levels of pressure. Light , medium, and hard. Make sure you lift your arm up as your checking for cancer. You can go up and down or side to side. If you feel little hard stationary lumps that really hurt or one big mass that won't move. You aught to see a doctor for 100% accuracy. Don't confuse your milk glands for lumps. They can get inflamed or swollen on your period or when your bodies bugging out.
Reply:The Five Steps of a 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, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a 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 fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.





Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side鈥攆rom 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. Be sure to feel all the breast tissue: just beneath your skin with a soft touch and down deeper with a firmer touch. Begin examining each area with a very soft touch, and then increase pressure so that you can feel the deeper tissue, 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.
Reply:Here are some tips:


In front of a mirror raise your left arm up above your head


then use your right hand and examine your left breast by making circular motions around your breast from the outside in(don't use a lot of pressure because you'll make yourself sore) Repeat same process with the right breast by raising your right arm and using your left hand for examining.


Then compare what you felt in each breast.


Breast cancer generally has no symptoms or pain


Cysts in your breast hurt and are caused by too much caffeine


Lumps in your breast that are squeashy feeling and move is generally not breast cancer


A small pea-sized lump that is hard and does not move-you should have checked out





I recommend a mammogram to every woman yearly





God Bless
Reply:Go in a clock wise motion and slowly go around the breast, this could be a cyst, I know I had one myself. My mother had breast cancer thirty years ago but went to the doctors right away and they removed the area and then ten years later she got colon cancer.....today she's in her late 70's and she's fine....we all attribute this to the fact that she did no waiting.....as soon as she suspected something she had it checked out !!!!!!! As for telling the difference between a cyst and cancer I don't think any one but a doctor could tell you that, but the way if you don't have a medical book go to the library and check out the pictures....they show you step by step how to do this correctly. Good luck to you.....bye !
Reply:1. If you think there might be a change, go see your physician immediately.





2. Here are the steps, this comes from a blog written by the CancerGeek.





This is how to proform such an exam:


1. Lie down and place your right arm behind your head.The exam is done while lying down, and not standing up. This is because when lying down the breast tissue spreads evenly over the chest wall and it is as thin as possible, making it much easier to feel all the breast tissue.





2. 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.





3. Use 3 different 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. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. If you鈥檙e not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse. Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before moving on to the next spot.





4. Move around the breast in an up and down pattern starting at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the chest bone.(sternum or breastbone). Be sure to check the entire breast area going down until you feel only ribs and up to the neck or collar bone (clavicle).





5. 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.





6. Repeat the exam on your left breast, using the finger pads of the right hand.





7. While standing in front of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, dimpling, or redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin. (The pressing down on the hips position contracts the chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.)





8. 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 difficult to examine.





If you want to read the full blog, go here: http://cancergeek.wordpress.com
Reply:If you think you found a lump than you should go and get a mammogram, because it could be cancer, but doesn't have to be cancer. It could be a non-canceres tumor, but get it checked. Breast cancer can react in different ways, it might be possible to hurt depending on the location it is, but than again it could be a cyst that is hurting. For your peace of mind make the appointment tomorrow.


Good luck, you will be fine!
Reply:Look sweety you should go to the doctor .You do not want to play with this.My mom found a lump and let it go for a few months because she was in denile.It was cancer and she is gone now.She got i in 2001 and passed in 2004.So please go to doc and get it tested just to be sure.