One in nine New Zealand women will develop breast cancer at some time in their life. Because early detection gives the best possible chance of survival, it’s essential to stay up-to-date with breast checks. Here, we answer some of your biggest questions…
WHEN SHOULD I START DOING BREAST CHECKS?
If you’re not already performing regular checks, breast oncoplastic surgeon Dr Samriti Sood says the time to get started is now. “Essentially, earlier the better, and the process is simple and shouldn’t be daunting, so creating the habit younger is preferable,” she explains.
WHEN SHOULD I HAVE MY FIRST MAMMOGRAM?
“For women over 50 years of age, it is recommended to book in a regular mammogram every two years, however it is very reasonable to commence mammograms from the age of 40,” says Dr Sood. “It’s also important to note that if you have a family history of breast cancer, if at least one family member has had breast cancer at a young age, if your breasts are very dense or quite lumpy, or any other risk factors for breast cancer, I recommend an annual mammogram screening test.”
ARE THERE ANY OTHER TESTS THAT I NEED?
“A breast ultrasound is very important to be done in conjunction with a mammogram, particularly for women aged between 30-55, where women tend to have denser breasts which a mammogram alone may not be an accurate form of screening,” tells Dr Sood. “A breast MRI [magnetic resonance imaging] can also be used for screening high-risk individuals who have a very strong family history of breast cancer or carry a gene mutation that puts them at a higher risk of developing breast cancer.”
DO I NEED A GENE TEST?
Your GP can help you to assess if you should get a test. One thing they will ask about is your family history, on your mother and father’s side. “If a direct family member, such as a mother, sister, cousin, aunt, have been diagnosed before the age of 50 or if multiple family members have had a diagnosis, a gene test is recommended,” says Sarah Powell, CEO of Pink Hope. If you are potentially at high risk, you can be referred to Genetic Health Service NZ (GHSNZ) and to a breast specialist for a full assessment. GHSNZ is part of New Zealand’s public health system and operates clinics throughout the country.
WHAT IF I FIND A LUMP?
If you do find a lump, Dr Sood says there is no need to panic. “Some breast lumps are benign (non cancerous), however if you do feel a lump on your breast, you need to seek medical advice,” she advises. “Any breast lump you have felt should be investigated by your doctor, preferably with a clinical examination, mammogram and ultrasound. Lumps also generally require a biopsy.”
How to do a breast check
Check in with your health from the comfort of your home
Dr Sood says there are three components to a breast check: Look, Feel and Move. “Remember that self-breast checks are not a daunting process and should be kept simple, straight forward
and performed regularly in a comfortable environment to you,” she tells. “The process can be performed while lying in bed, slightly inclined with a pillow under your head, in the shower or while relaxing on the couch.”
LOOK Stand in front of a mirror with arms by your side and check to see if your breasts are even, if the skin of the breast and/or nipple look normal, and to see if there are any obvious bulky or lumpy parts.
FEEL For this step, get into your comfortable position, raise your arm, and using the flat surface of your four fingers, move your fingers in whichever way you like to completely cover your breast. This could be feeling from the outside in, vice versa or by moving away from the nipple using circular movements with your fingers or straight movements away from the nipple. Don’t forget to feel underneath your nipple and the axillary tail, which is your underarm area, as this is part of your breast.
MOVE For the final step, stand in front of the mirror with your arms raised and look for any dimpling, tethering or tethering of the skin around the breast in any location. Also check underneath your breast. Then, put hands on your hips and press into the hips, looking for tethering to the underlying chest muscle while pressing your hips. Using your hands, hold your breast and gently move it across your chest muscle to make sure there is nothing holding the breast from moving.
Join thousands of Kiwis on Friday 28 and Saturday 29 October by taking to the streets this Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Your support will help fund breast cancer education, innovative projects by top researchers, and support patients and their families as they navigate through their breast cancer journeys. Head to pinkribbonvolunteer.org.nz to volunteer for a two-hour collection shift for the Pink Ribbon Street Appeal.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
