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aroundthedurian - health
By SOS Medika, Medical Department Image from iStock October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month globally. SOS Medika, ANZA Silver Sponsors provide some useful information on breast selfexamination. Worldwide, breast cancer is the second most frequent cancer and the fifth cause of cancer-related mortality. It is the most common cancer to affect women and it is second only to lung cancer as the principal cause of cancer-related deaths among women. Though still clouded in controversy, breast selfexamination (BSE) still has an important role to play in the early detection of breast cancer in resourceconstrained settings where routine clinical breast examination and mammography may not be
feasible. In such settings, BSE is recommended because it is free, private, painless, easy, safe, and requires no specific equipment. It has also been shown to improve breast health awareness and thus potentially allow for early detection of breast anomalies. Why is BSE important? Breast cancer is characterised by the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the milk-producing glands of the breast or in the passages (ducts) that deliver milk to the nipples. A breast self-exam that you do for breast awareness helps you understand the normal look and feel of your breasts. If you notice a change in your breasts that seems abnormal or if you notice one breast is different when compared with the other, you can report it to your doctor. There are many conditions that can cause changes in your breasts, including breast cancer.
