Jakarta, (ANTARA) – Surgical Oncology Specialist Dr. Maria Kristina Siswandari, Sp.B (K) Onk suggested that women do breast self-examination (BSE) as part of breast cancer detection, one of which is in a lying position.
“Feeling the breast with the condition that the position must be lying down. If possible, support his back with a thin pillow,” said he who practices at RSPI – Puri Indah in a health webinar, Thursday (21/4).
According to the Mayo Clinic, when lying down, the breast tissue spreads out, making it thinner and easier to feel.
If it is the right breast that you want to examine, then lift your right arm and touch it with your left hand using three fingers, namely the index, middle and ring. Then do the opposite when examining the left breast.
“We do palpation. All parts of the breast must be palpated, for example in a circular motion or zig zag so that the entire surface is palpable. No need to press too hard, just lightly,” suggested Kristina.
Apart from lying down, he also advised women to do BSE in front of the mirror to look for protrusions, nipples going inward, or dimples in the breasts, the image of breasts like orange peel.
“The position with the hands up, then on the waist. Everything that feels like a lump is worrying, so we need further examination,” he said.
Women over 20 years old are advised to do BSE once a month on the second or third day after menstruation. Those who are in the age range of 20-40 years should also see a doctor every three years. Examination to the doctor becomes once a year for women aged over 40 years.
Kristina said, for those who have a family history of breast cancer, it requires more frequent physical examinations by doctors and periodic mammography examinations before the age of 50 years.
BSE is needed to identify changes in the shape of the breast or the presence of abnormalities and the results of the examination need to be confirmed by supporting examinations.
“The first time people get treatment is usually when they find a lump. Don’t be afraid, because a lump can be a benign or malignant tumor. If it is benign, it will not spread and is not dangerous,” he said.
Breast cancer in Indonesia ranks second highest after cervical cancer with as many as 23,140 new cases every year. According to Kristina, most patients come in locally advanced stages and if this is the case, their life expectancy will drop significantly.
“How malignant cancer is, what we can do is detect it early so a treatment can be carried out, meaning it can cure it. For example, when it arrives late, what we can do is palliatively, to improve the quality of life,” said Kristina.
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