There is no question that early detection saves lives. A popular adage says a stitch in time saves nine. This is why B.C.F. advocates for Breast self examination for early detection. Breast cancer often begins with a tiny lump in the breast which gets bigger and bigger as time goes on. As it gets bigger, it enlarges the breast and spreads to the surrounding breast tissues, the chest wall and may spread even to the opposite breast. It spreads also to the lymph nodes in the armpit, neck and inside the chest. It may also, if ignored, spread to distant organs of the body, commonly lungs, liver and bones.
The spread to the spine may cause paralysis of one or both legs. As the cancer grows bigger in the breast, it may ulcerate, i.e develop into an open wound.
Research in Britain and Sweden has shown that breast cancers – those less than 15mm (yin) in diameter are less likely to have spread and are less aggressive. In 1994 – 1995 the National Breast Screening Programme identified 6,500 cancer and 2,600 were smaller than 15mm. Nearly 20% of the cancer found have not become invasive, that is they have not spread beyond the breast ducts.
Consider these facts still: the American Cancer Society says that 97% of women are alive after diagnosis if the cancer is discovered and treated before it has spread to the Lymph nodes, compared to 76% of those whose Cancer has spread beyond the nodes to the Lungs, bone marrow or brain.
It is against this backdrop that B.C.F advocates for breast self examination and by way of extension early detection, as detecting cancer when they are small and confined to the breast, increases the liklihood of survival and gives women more treatment options.
Breast self examination is followed up by ultra sound scanning by B.C.F to confirm the findings and then referred to the surgeon.
View Pictorial Directions for Self Examination |
