20 May 2018

Regular self-examination of the breast is important for both men and women and should be part of one’s health routine to spot any changes in the breasts.

Speaking at Bokamoso Private Hospital on May 18, Eisenhower Medical Centre manager, Ms Belinda Zaparinuk said self-examination was an easy way to understand the body and know when something might not be right.

She explained that knowledge on breast cancer could enable women to develop a strategy that might reduce the risk factors for breast cancer while providing access to improved methods of detection and treatment.

She however said self-examination was not a replacement for a doctor’s visit or mammogram and should not be relied upon because diagnosis was a way for people to be aware of changes in their body.

Ms Zaparinuk noted that the earlier cancer was detected, the better the chances for treatment and survival.

She explained that self-examination involved taking time to understand what was normal for your body and understanding the impact of the disease was an important step towards reducing its effects on women’s life as much as possible.

“Not every cancer can be found this way, but it is nonetheless important. Breasts come in all shapes and sizes, so what’s normal for one person, may not be for someone else. Only you know what is normal for you. The best way to learn is to take some time to get to know your body,” she said.

Ms Zaparinuk said hormonal changes affected breasts size and could make them sensitive during the menstrual cycle, noting that an ideal time to perform self-examination was a few days after the end of the monthly menstrual cycle, that is when the breast tissue was the least lumpy.

Furthermore, she said breast cancer was not only a woman’s disease and men could also get it with the same symptoms as those in women.

Since men do not regularly check their breasts, the signs were easier to miss, stated Ms Zaparinuk. ENDS