Breast cancer is a serious illness and
it is important to be proactive about feeling for lumps, tenderness or any
abnormalities on the breast. Instead of doing it yourself, though, you may as
well ask a partner to examine breasts and you can return the favor, since
breast cancer may attack both genders.
Around 240000 women and 2000 men are
diagnosed with breast cancer every year. About 1 in 8 women are predisposed to
develop breast cancer over the course of their life. In addition to lung cancer,
breast cancer death rates are higher in America, and diagnosing and treating
that cancer early, the survival rate is 99%.
Risk
Factors for Breast Cancer:
§ obesity and pills that control birth
§ Began menstrual period before age 12,
and menopause after age 55
§ Family history of breast, colorectal, or
ovarian cancer
§ ovarian cancer personal history
§ Smoking
§ If you are physically active or not
Symptoms To Look For:
§ A lump, firm knot, or thickening in the breast
§ A change in size or shape of the breast(s)
§ Lump under the arm
§ Nipple pain, tenderness or discharge,
including bleeding
§ A nipple turning inward or inverted
§ Change in texture or skin color
§ Breast that feels swollen or warm
§ Itchiness, soreness, or rash on the
nipple
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It’s time for the
exam. Ask your partner if you can perform the exam. Make sure you ask this
otherwise, he/she might think that you got lazy or methodical with foreplay. The first thing to know is that the exam should be done just after a woman’s period
has ended. This will ensure most accurate results, as breasts will not be
tender or swollen.
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Step
1: Have your partner lay topless on a comfortable surface like a bed or sofa.
Make sure the area is well lit and have him/her put one arm behind the head.
You can prop this shoulder up with a thin pillow.
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Step
2: Take your three middle fingers and apply slight pressure to the breast on
the same side as the raised arm. Using the pads of your fingers, not the tips,
gently use enough pressure to feel for lumps, knots, or thickening.
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Step
3: Use a pattern of your choice. Go up and down vertically as if your drawing
invisible lines, or start on the outside of the breast and spiral in until you
hit the nipple. Keep this pattern constant when you do the exam, and don’t
forget to feel underneath the armpit. Additionally, check to see if there is a
difference in skin texture or tone or any discharge from the nipples.
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Step
4: Have your partner raise the other arm and repeat the exam on the other
breast.
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Step
5: When you finish examining your partner’s breasts, have him/her stand up and
start the exam from the beginning because breasts feel different when a person
stands upright. Be mindful of the various symptoms to look for and make sure
you examine the breasts the same as you did when your partner was lying down.
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Doctors advise a
self-examination for breast cancer once a month after a woman’s period has
ended, so you can continue to do this to your partner once a month. Being proactive
about performing breast exams is a great way to catch breast cancer in the
early stages, in the event that it occurs.
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