21% of newly diagnosed female cancer patients were diagnosed with breast cancer (2021 National Cancer Registration Statistics). This means that one in five female cancer patients has breast cancer, which has a prognosis of over 90% five-year survival rate when detected early. Director Ji-hyun Lee of Damsoyu Hospital said, "To quickly detect breast cancer, it is very helpful to learn about self-examination methods for breast cancer in advance."

 

It is recommended to perform self-examinations starting at age 30, once a month, three days after the end of menstruation.

 

Check if a lump has formed

 

The most common symptom of breast cancer is a lump in the breast.

 

To check for a lump, raise your left arm and use the middle three fingers of your right hand to gently feel your left breast, starting from the nipple and moving outward in a circular motion.

 

Lift the opposite arm and touch the right breast in the same way. The reason for raising the arm is to stretch the muscles inside the breast, pushing any lumps toward the skin so they can be felt more easily by hand.

When touching a lump with your hand

▲통증이 없고 

▲Hard and rigid

▲Uneven and bumpy

If you do not move well, it could be cancer.

 

Director Ji-hyun Lee said, "Since the tumor invades the surrounding tissue and is tangled, it does not move when touched."

 

Blood-tinged discharge

 

If blood-tinged discharge comes out gently when squeezing the nipple, cancer may be suspected. If milk or clear fluid is discharged from the nipple, it is mostly not breast cancer. Some medications that stimulate the milk ducts (such as digestive aids) can also cause clear fluid or milk to be released.

 

The shape of the nipple should also be observed.

 

It is also important to check for changes in the skin or nipple shape of the breast. If the skin or nipple becomes indented, it may indicate cancer. Cancer cells can adhere to surrounding tissues and cause fibrosis (hardening), pulling the ducts connected to the nipple or surrounding tissues inward. Sores, discharge, or scabbing around the nipple are also warning signs of breast cancer.

 

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Lumps in the breast can be checked through self-examination.

Self-examinations should be performed once a month starting at age 30.

It's important to see it every day, but

It seems that the best time to do it is three days after your period ends.

 

It's also important to develop the habit of paying close attention during daily showers.