Breast cancer self-detection practices are an effective way women can monitor their breast health in between annual screenings. However, just because you find a lump in your breast doesn’t mean it is necessarily cancer. In fact, breast lumps are quite common.
“The tissue that makes up the majority of the breast is something that can feel lumpy and bumpy at all times of the month. That’s because the tissue, what we call fibrocystic tissue, is made up of a type of tissue that itself can feel like it has this texture. Those feelings of lumps and bumps can be more common during the week leading up to your period, due to the fact that the tissue can become larger and grow at that time,” states Dr. Meghan Garstka, Breast Surgical Oncologist at the Breast Center at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health.
Setting a “Baseline”
The reason why consistent monthly self-checks are so important is so women can determine what is “normal” for them and identify when a lump feels different. For example, it might seem firmer or larger than other lumps or be located in an unusual area such as the armpit.
“If you feel [something like that], you should definitely make note of it. If it persists and is something that is concerning, contact your physician about getting a breast exam and having someone take a look at this lump more closely,” advises Dr. Garstka.
Yet, it’s still not time to panic. Lumps can present as a number of non-cancerous conditions, such as fibroadenoma (benign breast tumor) or a cyst. Upon further investigation—professional breast exam, imaging—next steps, such as a biopsy, can be determined.
“If you undergo imaging, and there’s no issues at that time, that’s a good baseline to start doing self-exams. You know your exam is normal and your imaging is normal, or maybe you know there’s a lump in the breast that’s been evaluated and is benign. So, now you know what the status is, and you can follow it,” notes Dr. Garstka.
Mammography: Gold Standard of Professional Screening
Mammography is considered the gold standard for breast cancer screening, even though other imaging methods such as MRI have been promoted in recent years. For women with no family history of breast cancer, it’s generally recommended they begin mammography screening at age 40 and continue annually.
“We know that if you find the breast cancers early, they’re very treatable. Mammography is a way we can make sure we identify and detect these early and then proceed with treatment,” shares Dr. Garstka.
That said, she also encourages women to continue to perform self-exams and not hesitate to reach out to their healthcare providers—even a primary care provider—if they are concerned about anything.
“I would definitely encourage women to be in close communication with their providers about this topic, because it’s in the early detection of breast cancer where we have really come a long way. I think that’s from women doing a good job with breast cancer screening and also with self-exams and just being good about communicating with their physicians. It’s very important.”
Listen to a Podcast
To listen to an in-depth conversation on this topic with Dr. Meghan Garstka, Breast Surgical Oncologist at the Breast Center at University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health, play app below or follow this link: https://radiomd.com/umms/item/45791
