BREAST CANCER

AND
BREAST SELF EXAMINATION

DR. PARTHA PRATIM SAIKIA

PRAGATI HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTRE,
SIVASAGAR

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 What is breast cancer?

• Uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.

• Begins as a small lump and then grows either
slowly or quickly
• All breast lumps are not cancers
• Benign tumours do not spread
• Malignant tumours spread and cause damage
to other parts of body

2
 How serious is breast
cancer?
• Very serious condition, can be life threatening.
• Early detection is vital as it increases the
chances of treatment success.
• community screening programmes &
mammograms are important tools for early
detection.
• BSE (breast self examination) is a very cost
effective method of early detection

3
 What are the early signs of
breast cancer?

• Presence of a lump, usually single, firm and

often painless.
• Unusual appearance of the skin of the breast or
underarm.
• Prominent veins on the skin over breast.
• Nipple discharge or inversion.
• A depression in an area over the breast

4
 What is the breast cancer
detection plan?

• Clinical examination of the breast every 3yrs

in the age group 20-39 yrs and every year
there-after.
• Monthly BSE beginning at age 20 yrs.
• Baseline mammogram by age 40 yrs.
• Mammogram every 2-3 yrs for women above
40-49 yrs, depending on previous findings.

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 Breast self examination

• BSE is done monthly.

• Same day every month in menopausal women.
• 7-10 days from the first day of menstrual
period in other women.

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BSE STEP I
Stand in front of a mirror, put
your hands on your hips and look
at each breast separately.
Note the size, shape, colour,
contour, direction of your breasts
& nipples.

What you should look for

– Any distortion in shape or size
– Any dimpling, puckering or
bulging of the skin
– Any redness, soreness, rash or
swelling
– Any change in the position of the
nipple

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BSE STEP II

Raise your arms over

your head and look for
the same changes,
slowly turning from side
to side

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BSE STEP III

While at the mirror

gently squeeze each
nipple between fingers
and thumb and check
for any nipple discharge

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BSE STEP IV
Next feel your breasts while lying
down, with the right hand feel the
left breast and with the left hand
feel the right breast.
Keeping fingers flat and together
use a firm smooth touch to feel
the entire breast from top to
bottom and side to side.
Begin at the nipple, moving in
larger and larger circles till the
outer edge is reached.
Or move your fingers vertically
up and down.
Increase pressure to feel the
tissues up to the rib cage.

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BSE STEP V

Finally feel your breasts

while you are standing
or sitting
Cover the entire breast
using the same hand
movements described in
the previous step

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• Record your observation and mark your
calendar for BSE next month !!
• In case of any problem or any doubt consult
your surgeon immediately

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THANK YOU
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