October Rose is an international movement to raise awareness and fight against breast cancer. The campaign was created in the 1990s by the Susan G Foundation. Komen for the Cure, being celebrated annually with the aim of raising awareness and also providing greater access to diagnostic and treatment services for the disease, helping to save thousands of lives of women worldwide.
And in 2020, the National Cancer Institute (INCA), an entity of the Brazilian Ministry of Health, focuses on the dissemination of information about what care every woman should take as a breast cancer prevention measure.
Prevention measures you can adopt today:
- Maintain a healthy diet;
- Practice regular physical activities;
- Avoid alcoholic beverages;
- Avoid smoking;
- Try to stay within the appropriate weight for your height and biotype;
- Do the self-examination periodically.
According to INCA information, only these measures are already able to reduce by 28% the chances of developing all types of cancer, including breast cancer.
Diagnosing cancer early exponentially increases the chances of cure, and 95% of cases identified in the early stages have the possibility of cure. Therefore, mammography is essential for the screening of the disease, and can even identify small changes in the breast and should be done annually by women from 35 years of age.
Self-examination – A touch that can save lives.
Self-examination is another key method for diagnosing breast cancer early. It must be done in three stages, being:
- Note in front of the mirror:
- Take off your blouse and bra and stand in front of the mirror with your hands around your waist;
- Check the size, shape and contour of the breasts;
- Note if there are changes in the skin of the breast, areola or nipple;
- Check that the bra leaves marks on only one of the breasts, indicating swelling;
- Leave your arms loose next to your body and watch your breasts again;
- Raise your arms and observe if there are any changes.
- Groping during bathing:
- With the spine upright, place your left hand behind the nape of the neck, with your elbow pointed upwards;
- Slide your right hand down your left breast, groping it with your fingertips;
- Make circular movements firmly, but without causing discomfort or pain, starting in the armpit and heading towards the nipple;
- During groping, check for denser or lumpy regions;
- Make the same circular movements in the armpit region, observing if there are any palpable nodules;
- Gently press the nipple to check for liquid of unknown origin;
- Change the position of the arms by placing your right hand on the nape of your neck, and repeat the step by step of this step.
- Lying groping:
- Lie on the bed, place a thin pillow under your left shoulder and take your left hand behind your head;
- With the other hand, feel the left breast and make circular movements with your fingertips, checking for abnormalities;
- Place the pillow under the right shoulder and repeat the steps with the other breast.
If you identify any changes in one or both breasts, seek a gynecologist or mastologist immediately.
Kevenoll do Brasil is together in this fight. And if you are a healthcare professional, always ensure that you wear appropriate procedure gloves to provide yourself and your patients with all the safety and protection during care.