Breast Health
Being Breast Aware
Being breast aware is part of general body awareness. Being breast aware means learning how your breasts look and feel.
It is important to know what is normal for you. Everyone is different and as you go through the different stages of your lives, your breasts are continually changing.
Breast Awareness at a glance
- Find time to check your breasts regularly.
- Look at your breasts in the mirror at the size and shape.
- Feel your breasts in the bath or shower, lying down or when getting dressed.
- Feel the entire breast tissue from your collarbone to below your bra line and into the underarm.
- Feel near the surface and then deeper using the flat part of your hand
- If you notice any changes, see your doctor immediately.
- If you’re over 50, get a free screening mammogram every two years.
Breast Changes
- A lump, lumpiness or thickening in the breast tissue.
- Skin changes such as dimpling, puckering or redness.
- Nipple changes such as an unusual discharge, the nipple pointing in rather than out (unless it has always been this way) or an itchy/ulcerated area.
- A part of the breast that feels different from the rest of the breast.
- A new and persistent pain.
If you notice any of these changes see your GP straight away.
Pauline Wright was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2006 and was inspired to write a poem and create a card to give to family and friends to encourage them to be breast aware. Pauline has given the Breast Cancer Foundation of WA her poem to help spread the message of the importance of being breast aware.
Be Breast Aware
Dear Girlfriends everywhere
I have some news I need to share.
I found a lump in my breast.
Dashed off to see the doctor,
He sent me for a test.
The results came back the following day.
The diagnosis – BREAST CANCER.
It’s happened to me,
It can happen to you.
Please be aware,
There is something you should do.
So come on girls,
Bare your breasts.
Touch them, feel them, regularly.
Over 50 go for ‘the squeeze’ *
Don’t leave it to fate,
To make that date.
Girlfriends everywhere,
This news we must share.
* ‘the squeeze’ - mammogram
Breast Cancer Screening
It is important for all women aged 50 and over to have a free screening mammogram every two years. Having a mammogram can save your life.
- A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast.
- Mammograms detect up to 90% of breast cancers.
- Mammograms can detect a lump as small as a grain of rice.
BreastScreen WA offer free screening mammograms to anyone aged 40 and over. Clinics are available in locations around the Perth metropolitan area. For women living in rural and remote areas the BreastScreen WA mobile unit visits regional towns every two years.
To make an appointment for a free mammogram call BreastScreen WA on 13 20 50.
For more information about breast cancer screening, visit www.breastscreen.health.wa.gov.au or call 9323 6799 or 1800 800 033.
Breast Cancer
What is Breast Cancer?
Breast Cancer is a group of abnormal cells, which continue to grow and multiply in the breast. Normally cells grow and multiply in an orderly way but changed genes can cause them to behave abnormally. In the breast they may grow into a lump.
Breast Lumps
These lumps can be benign or malignant. Benign lumps do not spread to other parts of the body. A malignant lump is made up of cancer cells. When it first develops, this malignant tumour is confined to the breast.
How breast cancer develops
Breast cancer develops in either the ducts or the lobules. Lobules are where the milk is produced and ducts are where the milk travels to the nipple. Cancer cells develop when the cells lining the ducts or lobules become abnormal in size and shape and start multiplying in an uncontrolled way. If the cancer is not removed and controlled, the cancer cells can spread to other parts of the body. These are called secondary cancers or metastases. About 200 women in Western Australia die from breast cancer each year.
What Causes Breast Cancer?
Nobody knows the cause of breast cancer. It is not possible to say what exactly causes a woman’s breast cancer. However, research has shown that some factors might increase a woman’s risk or chance of developing breast cancer. These factors are called risk factors.