Know your breasts

Pregnancy and breastfeeding really raise your awareness about how wonderful your breasts are. Learn more about them to keep yourself healthy.

Breast health is something you should aim to stay aware of throughout your life, not just during October when it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

As a new mom it can be easy to neglect the all-important self-checks as you are so focused on your baby. We’re here to remind you to make the time to take care of yourself too.

Professor Justus Apffelstaedt – a Cape Town based surgeon with an interest in breast, thyroid and parathyroid health as well as soft tissue surgical oncology – says that breast cancer occurs in 1 out of 3 000 pregnant women, mostly between the ages of 32 to 38. More and more women are delaying pregnancy until their middle or late thirties, when breast cancer is more common. While it is very rare during pregnancy, doctors are expecting to diagnose more cases because of this shift in age. Interestingly, women who become mothers before the age of 30 enjoy a lower risk of ever getting breast cancer. If you breastfeed, especially for longer than a year, the risk also decreases.

In short, breast cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells in the mammary glands that can spread to other parts of the body through the blood circulation or lymph system. If it is caught early, the chance of recovery is much greater. When a lump has already formed, this indicates that the cancer has been growing fast, and intensive treatment will be necessary.

GETTING TO KNOW YOUR BREASTS

Breast sensitivity is often one of the first signs that you are pregnant. They can remain sensitive especially during the first trimester. The glands in the breasts are growing, and that is why your breasts will feel fuller and firmer. By 20 weeks your nipples and areola will also begin to change, even doubling in size. The skin will darken even more, and you might notice little lighter dots on the areola. These are tiny glands that produce oils to help with breastfeeding. Your nipples will become more elastic.

Towards the end of your pregnancy, your breasts are already producing colostrum, your baby’s first milk, and they can leak a little and feel heavy.

KNOW YOUR BODY

Early breast cancer has no symptoms, but as the cancer grows, the breast might begin to look and feel different, according to the Cancer Association of South Africa.

■ A lump will feel the same whether you are pregnant or not, but can be harder for you to detect during your pregnancy as your breasts are growing so much. Play it safe and see the doctor if you notice any of the following:

■ A lump or thickening in or near the breast at the armpit.

■ A change in the shape or size of the breast.

■ A nipple that is inverted.

■ Abnormal discharge from the nipple.

■ Scaley, red or swollen skin on the breast, nipple or areola.

■ The skin of the breast resembling orange peel in texture.

KEEP CHECKING

Hormonal changes during pregnancy can cause breast cancer to grow even faster. Routine self-examination throughout your pregnancy is therefore non-negotiable. When not pregnant, do your selfexamination every month at more or less the time when you’re ovulating. Choose the same time of day and lie flat on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder and your right hand under your head. Then use your left fingers to examine your right breast. Cover the whole area by making small, firm circular movements in a top to bottom pattern across the whole breast, under your arm and also up to your shoulder. Repeat on the other side.

In the shower, examine your breasts with soapy hands that glide over them. Also stand in front of the mirror, and take a good look at your breasts with your arms at your side and with your arms raised, and on your hips, so you can know what you look like in order to spot changes. During pregnancy, pick a day of the month to do your check ,s and stick to it.

MORE MEASURES

Your genes, environment, behaviour and lifestyle all play a role in whether you get breast cancer or not. Some of these you can control, and others not. The cause of breast cancer is a mystery, but the risk factors aren’t. Protect yourself as much as you can by being aware of the following:

■ You can’t change your genes, but if you are aware of your family history, you can act. Ask your mother and father about breast cancer in older family members. Share this information with your doctor. You might have to go for screenings at an earlier age or be tested for the gene that is associated with breast cancer. Be warned though: No cases in your family does not mean you aren’t at risk.

■ Western women in developed countries experience higher rates of breast cancer than their Eastern sisters or those in developing countries. There is a lot of speculation about why this is so and countless studies are under way to pinpoint the reasons.

■ You are never too young or too old to get breast cancer, even if you do everything to limit the risk. That’s why you should still always do the self-examinations and know what the early signs are. Don’t hesitate to see the doctor if any breast changes have your worried.

■ If you are overweight, smoke, drink more than two alcoholic drinks per day regularly, don’t exercise and don’t eat well, your risk for getting breast cancer increases. ●