But the melons that grow from soil aren’t the only ones you should inspect – the melons on your chest need to be checked too!
There are many ways to check your melons. All women should conduct regular self-examinations – around once a month – to look for lumps, changing shapes and other warning signs. And to be 100% sure that your melons are fresh and healthy, breast screening at an established healthcare facility will ensure that you can catch any problems early, before they become serious.
Regular breast screening is one of the best ways to catch breast cancer early, as this method can detect cancer that is too small to feel or see
What is breast screening & why is it important?
Let’s think about melons again. Have you ever checked a melon so thoroughly that you are completely sure that it’s ripe and ready to eat – only to cut into it and find out that it has gone bad?
The same thing can happen to your breasts. Even if you can’t feel or see any signs of breast cancer, there might be cancerous cells starting to grow, and the best way to catch them before they become serious health issues is breast screening.
Breast screening is when a certified healthcare professional checks a woman’s breasts for cancer. The purpose of clinical breast screening is to catch any cancerous cells early, before they become an issue.
Even if you can’t see or feel any signs of breast cancer, you could still have the disease in an early stage. Getting screened is the only way to be sure that you do not have breast cancer.
Regular breast screening won’t lower your risk of getting breast cancer, but it will definitely reduce your risk of serious illness or even death. The earlier you catch cancerous cells, the quicker you can treat them, and the less sick you will get.
Breast cancers found during a screening are usually smaller and less likely to have spread than those found by self-examination. The smaller the cancerous tumour and the smaller the spread, the easier the cancer is to treat.
Woman over 50 years old should go for breast screening at least every 2 years
What are the signs of breast cancer?
Whether you have gone for a recent screening or not, you should check your own melons at least once a month. These are the signs to look out for when conducting a self-exam.
Hard lump
- The most common sign of breast cancer – feels like a hard seed that cannot be moved, deep in the breast
Thick area
- A part of the breast that feels less ‘squishy’ and more ‘dense’
Dimple
- An indentation, or a part of the skin of the breast that is being ‘pulled in’
Nipple crust
- A scab-like red or white crusted surface that may be sore, and that doesn’t go away
Red or hot
- Breasts feel warm or hot, sometimes with a pink or reddish purple colour
New fluid
- Clear or bloody fluids leaking from the nipple
Skin sores
- Sores or open wounds on the breast, sometimes with a bad smell or leakage
Bump
- A hard lump on the surface of the breast, especially new bumps
Growing vein
- New blood vessels (veins) appearing on the breast which grow in size
Sunken nipple
- Some nipples are sunken from birth, and this is normal – but if your nipple starts to sink or turn, it could be a sign of breast cancer
New shape or size
- One breast changing size, flattening, swelling or drooping without an explanation
Orange peel skin
- Breast skin starts to look and feel like the peel of an orange
The best time to do a
breast self-exam is 3-5
days after your period
starts. Do it at the same
time every month so
you don’t get confused
between normal changes
and changes related to
your menstrual cycle.
Who should go for clinical screening?
The below guidelines are for women who have an ‘average risk’ of breast cancer. A woman has an average risk if:
She doesn’t have a personal history of breast cancer
Her family doesn’t have a strong history of breast cancer
Her family doesn’t have a genetic mutation known to increase the risk of breast cancer
She has not had chest radiation therapy before the age of 30
For those with average risk, the recommended screening frequencies are:
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