October is designated as "International Breast Cancer Awareness Month." In recent years, there has been a noticeable upward trend in the incidence rate of breast cancer among young women globally, making it the leading malignant tumor threatening women's health. With the advancement of clinical research on breast cancer, comprehensive treatment approaches have become the primary philosophy in clinical practice. To prevent recurrence and metastasis, adjuvant therapy following surgery is crucial, with endocrine therapy being one of the key methods in adjuvant treatment for breast cancer.
How to Properly Self-Examine for Breast Cancer: 5 Truths About Breast Cancer (Public Health Network)
Five Truths About Breast Cancer
Truth 1: In China, one person is diagnosed with cancer every 6 minutes.
China sees approximately 3.5 million new cancer cases annually, with about 2.5 million deaths resulting from the disease.
China ranks high globally in stomach and lung cancer incidence, with lung cancer remaining the most prevalent and deadly form.
In China, one in ten women either has breast cancer or knows someone who does. How alarming is China's breast cancer incidence? Its growth rate is twice the global average, ranking first worldwide.
Truth #2 About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer ranks only fifth in mortality rates. This means most cases are curable. Among breast cancer patients, fewer than one in four die from the disease.
Crucially, early-stage breast cancer boasts a cure rate exceeding 90%.
The question arises: How can breast cancer be detected early?
The answers are: 1. Lumps; 2. Skin changes. Common signs include superficial vein distension, dimpling (pitting), and orange-peel-like skin texture; 3. Nipple and areola alterations, such as flattening, retraction, or even inversion of the nipple beneath the areola, causing areolar distortion.4. Nipple discharge; 5. Pain; 6. Swollen axillary lymph nodes.
Truth #3 About Breast Cancer
Breast cancer isn't exclusive to women! Male breast cancer incidence is approximately 1 in 200,000, accounting for 1% of all breast cancer cases. The peak age for male breast cancer is between 60 and 70 years old.
Truth 4 About Breast Cancer
The exact causes of breast cancer, like other malignant tumors, remain unclear. Breast hyperplasia, however, is neither an inflammatory condition nor a tumor. It primarily results from endocrine imbalances and is closely linked to an individual's mental state.
Scientific research confirms that breast hyperplasia and breast cancer are distinct conditions with no inherent causal relationship.
Truth #5 About Breast Cancer
You likely know many risk factors for breast cancer, such as chronic constipation, heavy makeup use, and frequent consumption of grilled foods.But you may not know these two:
1. People who consume excessive amounts of high-sugar, high-fat foods and drink alcohol frequently are prone to breast cancer. This is because excess fat stimulates estrogen secretion, and the accumulation of large amounts of estrogen increases the incidence of breast cancer.
2. Night owls, especially those working night shifts, face higher breast cancer risks. Artificial light suppresses melatonin production (a hormone produced only at night), and lower melatonin levels promote estrogen secretion (yes, estrogen again). Consequently, the longer the night shift duration, the greater the breast cancer risk.
Early Breast Cancer Self-Examination Methods
Observing and Palpating Breast Skin
Examine the appearance of the breasts, such as checking for abnormal nipple discharge, changes in breast size or shape, and skin alterations (e.g., dimpling or orange-peel-like texture).
Primarily feel the breast tissue for any lumps. Lie flat on your back, raise the arm on the side being examined, and use the index, ring, and middle fingers of the other hand to gently palpate the breast area in small, circular motions, checking for any lumps.
Lying down is better than standing for self-examination.
Reason: Due to gravity, when standing, breast tissue tends to gather in the lower part. Overlapping glands appear particularly dense, making small lumps easier to miss. When lying flat, breast tissue spreads out more evenly, unaffected by gravitational thickness. This makes it easier to detect meaningful lumps during self-examination.
How do I know what I'm feeling?
What if you know how to examine but can't identify what you feel? Don't worry—I'll teach you a simple method.
「Lips」Normal breast tissue feels soft and spongy, like your lips.
「Nose tip」Lobular hyperplasia tissue feels like the tip of your nose—somewhat firm yet elastic. (Excluding those with cosmetic nose jobs.)
「Forehead」The most concerning breast cancer lumps feel like your forehead: hard and resistant to movement.
If you're still unsure, see an experienced breast specialist promptly.
Don't forget to examine the nipple and areola area.
Remember to gently squeeze the nipple at the end to check for discharge, noting which pore shows signs. If you have an appointment the next day, avoid excessive squeezing—draining all fluid prevents the doctor from assessing discharge characteristics and severity.