How to Recognize Breast Cancer in Women?

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in the world. The Breast Cancer Research Foundation revealed that in 2020 there were 2.3 million women worldwide who suffered from this disease, and 670 thousand of them died in the world. So what are the risk factors for this disease? Is there a way to recognize breast cancer? Check out information about risk factors and steps to recognize breast cancer in the continuation of this article.

Breast Cancer Risk Factors

Breast cancer occurs when cancer cells in the breast mutate and multiply into tumors. According to field data, around 80% of breast cases are invasive, which allows tumors to spread from the breast to other areas of the sufferer's body.

In general, breast cancer occurs in women aged 50 years and over. However, women under that age and men are also likely to have breast cancer. Until now, medical experts still do not know what the main cause of breast cancer is. However, doctors have listed several risk factors for breast cancer, namely:

• Age over 55 years
• Family history of breast cancer
• Genetics
• Smoking habits
• Drinking habits containing alcohol
• Being obese or overweight
• Being exposed to radiation from previous radiation therapy
• Hormone replacement therapy (HRT)

The worst effect of untreated breast cancer is the spread of tumors to other organs or areas in the body. This includes the brain, bones, liver, and lungs.

6 Steps of SADARI to Recognize Breast Cancer

Reporting from the page of the Directorate of P2PTM of the Indonesian Ministry of Health, here are six steps for breast cancer self-examination in women, as created by the Indonesian Cancer Foundation:

1. Stand up Straight

In an upright position, observe if there are changes in the shape and surface of the breast skin, swelling, and/or changes in the nipples. Questioning the shape of the right and left breasts that are not symmetrical is not a benchmark, because this is a natural thing.

2. Raise Both Arms up

Raise both of your arms up, then bend your elbows and place both palms behind your head. Then, push your elbows forward and observe the shape and size of your breasts. See if anything has changed or looks abnormal from usual.

3. Place Both Hands on the Waist

Place both hands on your waist and then lean your shoulders forward, so that your breasts hang. Push both elbows forward and tighten your chest muscles. See if there is any difference or change in your breasts from usual.

4. Raise One Arm then Bend the Elbow

Lift your left arm up and then bend your elbow until your left hand is holding the upper back. Use your right fingertips to feel and press the surface area of ​​your breast. Also, pay attention to the entire left breast up to the armpit area, when you do up-down, circular, and straight movements from the edge of the breast to the nipple. Repeat all these movements on your right breast.

5. Pinch Both Breast

Pinch (holding with the position of the arms bent in the shape of the letter L) both nipples. If there is fluid coming out of the nipple, immediately consult a doctor to get the right treatment and care.

6. Tidur

Dalam posisi tidur telentang, letakkan bantal di bawah bahu kanan lalu angkat lengan ke atas. Perhatikan payudara kanan ketika Anda melakukan 3 pola gerakan pada tahap keempat tadi. Gunakan semua ujung jari untuk menekan seluruh bagian payudara hingga sekitar ketiak.

Prevent Breast Cancer

To prevent the risk of breast cancer, you need to achieve and maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy foods, do enough physical activity, avoid alcoholic beverages, and do self-examination (6 steps of BSE) regularly. For further examinations such as mammograms, you can do it by visiting a doctor. Surgical Oncology Specialist di RS Premier Bintaro.

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