Breast Cancer

Breast and Gynaecological cancers combined represent the largest group of cancers that cause death among women.

With Breast Cancer there are several recognised factors that increase the risk:

• Advancing Age
• Upper socio-economic status
• Family history of Breast Cancer
• History of cancer in one breast
• Late childbearing
• Obesity
• Early Menarche
• Late menopause

Some recent studies indicate that breast-feeding babies can exert protective effects.

Survival rates vary and depend upon the size of the tumour. Early detection is vital.

There are clinical methods of detection of tumours in the breast, but the primary investigation can be done by regular self-examination. Self examination of the breast remains one of the most important screening procedures, primarily because of its universal applicability and the fact that most cancers of the breast are diagnosed in this way." ⁽¹⁾

The woman should lie down and rest one arm behind her head. She should then place the flat part of her fingers - not her finger tips - on the outer edge of the breast on that side. She should then feel for any sign of thickening, lumps or any other changes as she firmly glides her hand in small circles, spiraling in toward the nipple. She should use this procedure for each breast and should examine each armpit as well. Finally, during self-examination, the woman should gently squeeze both nipples and look for any discharge.⁽²⁾

• 1) Reproductive Health - Global Issues - The FIGO Manual of Human Reproduction - Volume 3 - A Rosenfield & M F Fathalla eds - Parthenon - New Jersey USA - 1990 p192

• 2) Ibid