Each October, conversations round breast most cancers consciousness take centre stage. But for a lot of ladies, the topic stays clouded in silence, stigma, or a easy ignorance. In India, breast most cancers has now develop into the commonest most cancers amongst ladies, and the numbers are steadily rising.

From 2019 to 2023, reported circumstances elevated from about 2,00,218 to 2,21,579, whereas deaths rose from 74,481 to 82,429. Alarmingly, 57 p.c of circumstances are identified at a late stage, the place remedy is much less efficient and survival outcomes are decrease.

Early detection can change the story, turning a doubtlessly life-threatening sickness into one that’s presumably treatable.

Nevertheless, docs emphasise that self-breast checks usually are not an alternative to medical screenings or mammograms, however they’re an empowering first step in attending to know your physique and recognizing adjustments early.

Early warning indicators of breast most cancers

• A brand new lump or thickened space within the breast or underarm
• Unexplained ache or tenderness in a single a part of the breast
• Change in dimension, form, or look of the breast
• Pores and skin adjustments akin to dimpling, puckering, redness, or rash
• Nipple adjustments – inversion, discharge (apart from breast milk), or sores
• Swelling in a part of the breast, even and not using a distinct lump

For menstruating ladies, a breast self-exam ought to be carried out a number of days after their interval ends. For many who are post-menopausal, a breast self-exam ought to be carried out on the identical day of every month, akin to the first or fifteenth day of the month.

“Girls ought to be breast conscious and study breast self-examination from age 21. They need to follow this at the least as soon as a month and find out how their breasts feel and look. Consciousness that breast most cancers can have an effect on 1 in 25 ladies in India is crucial as a result of early detection can save lives in 99% of stage 1 illness,” Dr Ashutosh Kothari, Director – Breast Most cancers, Oncoplastic and Reconstructive Surgical procedure, Sir HN Reliance Basis Hospital, informedThe Higher India.

He provides that ladies also needs to be aware of their household historical past of breast and ovarian most cancers. “If there’s a optimistic historical past, they need to see a specialist for formal threat evaluation and administration. If any issues persist past one interval cycle, it’s vital to seek the advice of a specialist. Mammographic surveillance ought to begin at age 45 each two years in ladies with no household historical past and proceed till age 75.”

Right here’s a easy information on methods to carry out a self-breast examination at dwelling

1. Within the bathe

Utilizing the pads of your three center fingers, look at your complete breast and armpit utilizing mild, medium, and agency stress. Carry out this test month-to-month on each breasts to really feel for any new lumps, thickenings, or different adjustments.

2. In entrance of a mirror

Stand in entrance of a mirror together with your shoulders straight and arms in your hips. Look fastidiously for any variations in your breasts’ dimension or form, pores and skin abnormalities like dimpling, or adjustments in your nipples.

Then, together with your palms in your hips, tense your chest muscle mass by urgent down firmly. This place will help reveal delicate dimpling or puckering that isn’t in any other case seen. Bear in mind, it’s regular for breasts to be barely asymmetrical.

3. Mendacity down

When mendacity down, breast tissue flattens and spreads, making it simpler to look at. To test your proper breast, place a pillow beneath your proper shoulder and your proper arm behind your head.

Utilizing the pads of your left hand’s three center fingers, really feel your complete breast and armpit space with various stress (mild, medium, and agency) to detect any lumps or thickenings.

Lastly, gently squeeze the nipple to test for discharge. Repeat your complete course of on your left breast.

For those who discover a lump, schedule an appointment together with your physician, however don’t panic. Not all lumps are cancerous.

Screening and life-style suggestions

Whereas mammography is crucial for detecting tumours earlier than they are often felt, breast self-exams play a complementary function. When practised repeatedly, they assist ladies perceive their “regular”, empowering them to establish and report any adjustments to their physician promptly.

Chandigarh-based Dr Meesha Verma, Advisor Oncoplastic Breast Surgeon, tells The Higher India, “Sustaining a wholesome life-style — each day train, wholesome consuming, avoiding alcohol and smoking — along with self-breast examination and really useful screening is vital to cut back our threat of creating breast most cancers.”

These practices, coupled with consciousness, create a stronger probability of catching breast sicknesses early and making certain well timed remedy.

Sources:

‘Rising breast most cancers in India: Challenges and alternatives’: by Madhavi Jha for ORF, Printed on 10 February 2025.

‘Breast most cancers care program in India’: by Frontiers, Printed on 19 August 2025.

‘Breast Self-Examination’: by Lillie D Shockney for Nationwide Breast Most cancers Basis, Printed on 20 August 2025.