Breast Cancer

Breast Cancer


Both men and women are at risk for breast cancer, but 99 out of 100 cases occur in women. Breast cancer is the leading cause of death among American women age 35 to 54. One out of eight American women will develop breast cancer at some point in her life. Early detection and treatment reduces the likelihood of dying from breast cancer. For this reason, the FDA recommends that all women over 20 perform a monthly breast self-exam. Breast cancer is not very common in young women, but getting in the routine of self-examination and learning about the normal features of the breasts is best started early. Women, not their doctors, detect more than 80% of breast cancers.

Breast Self Exam

When: Breast self-exams should be performed once a month, when breasts are least tender, about seven days after you start your period. It is important for women of all ages to examine their breasts so they know what is normal.

What to look for:
Normal breasts are made up of fatty tissue, milk, ducts, and glands. They may feel lumpy, which is why it’s important to learn what your breasts feel like so you recognize any changes. Look for firm fixed lumps, hard lumps, or lumps with irregular borders. If you notice anything unusual, see your doctor.

How:

1. Lie down and put a pillow under your right shoulder. Place your right arm behind your head.
2. Use the pads of your three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for any lumps or thickening. Your finger pads are the top third of each finger.
3. Press down using a light, a medium and a firm pressure. If you’re not sure how hard to press, ask your health care provider. Learn what your breast feels like most of the time. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal.
4. Check your breast in the same way each time, using a vertical up and down or circular movement.
5. Make sure to feel from you collar bone down to under your breast and back up into your armpit area. This will help you to make sure you have gone over the entire breast area.
6. Examine the left breast in the same way.
7. Stand in front of a mirror with your hands at your sides. Check for any puckering or dimpling in the skin or nipple discharge. Put your hands over your head to check for symmetry, nipple direction and general appearance. Report any changes to your health care provider.

Testicular Cancer

Testicular Cancer


Men between the ages of 15 and 24 have the highest risk of developing testicular cancer. For this reason, it is especially important for men of college age and younger to examine their testicles monthly. Although breast self-exams are more widely publicized and encouraged, in a college age population, testicular self-exams are more likely to detect a life threatening cancer.
Testicular Self Exam

What to look for:
Normal testicles are somewhat lumpy, so you should get to know what yours are like. Look for changes in consistency, hard lumps, or unexplained pain in your testicles. If you notice anything unusual, see your doctor.

How it works:

• Visual Inspection: Look for visible puckering of the skin or unusual lumps that stand out from the rest of the scrotum.
• Manual Inspection: Feel the entire area of your testicles for lumps or anything else out of the ordinary. If you do this regularly and know what is normal for you, then you will notice if anything changes.

Testicular cancer has a 97% cure rate if it is caught in the early stages. It should be one of the easiest cancers to treat, but many men ignore the symptoms until the disease has progressed. A simple exam once a month is worth it to keep your testicles in good shape.