Early Detection of Breast Cancer: What You Need to Know

“I discovered a lump on my breast. Does it mean I have breast cancer?”

Discovering a lump can be a concerning and worrying experience for anyone. While it is not certain, finding a lump may indicate a higher possibility of cancer. Early detection is important as it greatly improves the prognosis of diagnosed breast cancer. In fact, the 5-year survival rate for localized cancers detected early is 99%. Therefore, it is crucial to understand how breast cancer can be detected, diagnosed, and treated early.

While a lump in the breast or underarm area is a common symptom of breast cancer, there are other symptoms to look out for. These may include:

• Swelling in the breast
• Swelling in the armpit
• Clear or bloody nipple discharge (not to be confused with breast milk)
• Pain or tenderness in the nipple
• Inverted (retracted) nipple
• Scaly skin on the nipple
• Persistent tenderness of the breast
• Unusual breast pain or discomfort
• Unexplained changes in the size or shape of the breast

It is essential to note that breast cancer can manifest in different ways for different individuals. Some may not feel any lumps in their breasts or underarms. That is why it is important to stay vigilant and observe any changes in your breasts.

It is always a good idea to check for any unusual changes in the breast that might be worrisome. Performing a Breast Self-Examination (BSE) is a simple way to do this. Here’s how to do it step by step:

• Observing and familiarizing

Stand in front of a mirror with your hands on your hips and visually observe the shape, size, and skin surface of your breasts and nipples. Lift your arms above your head and observe the underside of your breasts and the underarm area. Keep an eye out for changes such as dimples on the underside of your breast.

• Touching and feeling

Using the middle three fingers, touch and feel your breasts in a circular motion with varying pressures from the outer areas towards the nipple to detect any lumps, thickenings, or other abnormalities and changes. This may be easier to do while lying down. Squeeze the nipples to check for any discharge.

There is currently little evidence to show significant benefits of regular BSEs in detecting breast cancer early. However, it is still beneficial to be familiar with how one’s breasts look and feels to detect and spot any changes in them.

“If I do BSEs regularly, do I still need to go for mammograms?”

Yes. While doing a BSE at least once every month can increase the chance of detecting breast cancer early, it cannot replace the relative accuracy of a mammogram. A mammogram, together with a trained eye of a radiologist, may be able to spot tumors or abnormalities that a BSE may not. Furthermore, not all cases of breast cancer have obvious symptoms. Therefore, regular screening, such as a yearly mammogram, will increase the chances of detecting breast cancer early.

“What should I do if I notice a lump or a change in my breast?”

Not all lumps are cancerous, and not all changes are symptoms of breast cancer. However, any noticeable or unexplained changes in the breasts may indicate an underlying health condition, even if it is not cancer. Many non-cancerous breast conditions may give rise to such symptoms. As such, it is still safest to consult a healthcare professional if you find any change in your breast. They will likely conduct a clinical breast examination which is a manual check for unusual lumps and textures, similar to a BSE but by a professional trained to look for and identify certain characteristics in lumps. They may then recommend a mammogram or ultrasound to check your breasts.

Screening refers to tests aimed at detecting diseases or conditions even before any symptoms are present. In the case of breast cancer, yearly mammograms (low-dose x-rays to detect breast cancers) for women aged 40 and older are encouraged. A mammogram may be able to detect breast cancers when they’re still small and even before a lump or any symptoms are observed or felt. As such, many cancers detected at this stage are highly treatable, and women in the appropriate age range are recommended for regular screenings. For women who are at a higher risk for breast cancer, it may be a good idea to have more frequent screenings.