Breast Awareness

“Breast awareness is important for women of all ages,even if you’re having regular mammograms… Take the time to get to know the normal look and feel of your breasts…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Breast Awareness Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Breast Awareness
  • Breast Cancer Awareness
  • Breast Health
  • Breast Self-Exam
  • Breast Self-Examination

Breast Awareness

What is a breast awareness?

DotS the definition of breast awareness may vary. In Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness Cancer Australia’s definition is:

“Breast awareness is important for women of all ages, even if you’re having regular mammograms.

You don’t need to be an expert or use a special technique to check your breasts. Take the time to get to know the normal look and feel of your breasts as part of everyday activities like showering, dressing, putting on body lotion or simply looking in the mirror. Knowing what is normal for you will help you to detect any new breast or nipple changes”.2

Breast Self-Exam

What is a breast self-exam?

DotS the definition of a breast self-exam may vary. In Breast Self-Exam for Breast Awareness: About – Overview the (United States) Mayo Clinic’s elaborate on:

“A breast self-exam for breast awareness is an inspection of your breasts that you do on your own. To help increase your breast awareness, you use your eyes and hands to determine if there are any changes to the look and feel of your breasts”.3

Aging

Is there an association between aging and breast changes?

In Aging Changes In the Breast the (United States) MedlinePlus elaborate on:

“With age, a woman’s breasts lose fat, tissue, and mammary glands. Many of these changes are due to the decrease in the body’s production of estrogen that occurs at menopause. Without estrogen, the gland tissue shrinks, making the breasts smaller and less full. The connective tissue that supports the breasts becomes less elastic, so the breasts sag.

Changes also occur in the nipple. The area surrounding the nipple (the areola) becomes smaller and may nearly disappear. The nipple may also turn in slightly”.4

Menopause

Is there an association between menopause and breast changes?

On page one in Breast Health: Normal Breast Changes During Life the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health elaborate on:

Breast Awareness

“In the years close to menopause, changes in hormone levels can increase breast pain, and the fibrous tissue is replaced by fatty tissue. It is quite common for breasts to be lumpy or have benign (non-cancerous) nodules”.5

In Aging Changes In the Breast the MedlinePlus note:

“Lumps are common around the time of menopause. These are often noncancerous cysts. However, if you notice a lump, make an appointment with your health care provider, because breast cancer risk increases with age. Women should be aware of the benefits and limitations of breast self-exams. These exams do not always pick up early stages of breast cancer. Women should talk to their providers about mammograms to screen for breast cancer”.6

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

Is there an association between menopausal hormone therapy and dense breasts?

In Breast Changes and Conditions: Breast Changes During Your Lifetime That Are Not Cancer the (United States) National Cancer Institute clarify:

  • “If you are taking hormones (such as menopausal hormone therapy, birth control pills, or injections) your breasts may become more dense. This can make a mammogram harder to interpret. Be sure to let your health care provider know if you are taking hormones”.8

Health Care Provider

What are changes to look for?

In Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness – Breast Awareness Cancer Australia explain:

“Breast changes to look for include:

  • A new lump or lumpiness, especially if it’s only in one breast
  • A change in the size or shape of the breast
  • A change to the nipple, such as crusting, ulcer, redness or inversion
  • A nipple discharge that occurs without squeezing
  • A change in the skin of the breast such as redness or dimpling
  • An unusual pain that doesn’t go away.

Nine out of ten breast changes aren’t due to cancer, but it’s important to see a doctor to be sure. If you find a breast change that is unusual for you, see your GP without delay”.9

In Diagnosing Breast Conditions: Participation In the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP) the (British) Women’s Health Concern encourage us to get checked, any changes we notice:

  • “As cancers can develop between screening mammograms or be missed by a screening mammogram, it is still important to be breast aware and report any new breast symptoms or signs to your GP. Do not wait until the next scheduled mammogram to check these out”.10

Who is a GP?

DotS and/or DotC (Depending on the Country) a GP may be a qualified and registered general practitioner, a medical practitioner, a medical doctor or a doctor.

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Breast Awareness?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Breast Awareness?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

  1. 5 Ways To Boost Breast Health
  2. About Your Breasts
  3. About Your Breasts: Normal Breast Changes During Life
  4. About Your Breasts: When To See Your Doctor
  5. Aging Changes In the Breast
  6. Awareness Remains Low Over Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk
  7. Be Breast Aware
  8. Breast Awareness
  9. Breast Awareness: Know What To Look For
  10. Breast Awareness: Self Examination
  11. Breast Cancer
  12. Breast Cancer
  13. Breast Cancer Awareness
  14. Breast Cancer Awareness Month [Australia]
  15. Breast Cancer Awareness Month [United Kingdom]
  16. Breast Cancer Awareness Month [United States]
  17. Breast Cancer Awareness [+ Video: When Should I Start Getting Mammograms?]
  18. Breast Cancer Awareness: The Importance of Self Exams and Knowing Your Risk Factors
  19. Breast Cancer In Women
  20. Breast Cancer Risk Factors
  21. Breast Cancer Screening
  22. Breast Cancer Symptoms
  23. Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness
  24. Breast Cancer: Information In Other Languages
  25. Breast Cancer: What Does It Mean To Have Dense Breasts?
  26. Breast Cancer: What Is A Mammogram?
  27. Breast Cancer: What You Can Do
  28. Breast Changes and Conditions
  29. Breast Checks
  30. Breast Diseases
  31. Breast Enlargement (Implants)
  32. Breast Health
  33. Breast Health & Awareness
  34. Breast Health: What’s Normal and What Changes To Look For
  35. Breast Implants
  36. Breast Implants: Do They Interfere With Mammograms?
  37. Breast Implants: Saline vs. Silicone
  38. Breast Lump: Early Evaluation Is Essential
  39. Breast Lumps
  40. Breast Lumps
  41. Breast Lumps and Benign (Not Cancer) Breast Conditions
  42. Breast Lumps: When To See A Doctor
  43. Breast Pain
  44. Breast Pain
  45. Breast Pain
  46. Breast Pain
  47. Breast Problems That Aren’t Breast Cancer eBook
  48. Breast Rashes
  49. Breast Self-Exam
  50. Breast Self-Exam
  51. Breast Self-Exam for Breast Awareness
  52. Breast Self-Exam
  53. Breast Self-Exam for Breast Awareness
  54. Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
  55. BreastScreen Australia
  56. Breastcancer.org
  57. Breastcancercare.org.uk
  58. Common Breast Conditions
  59. Common Breast Conditions: How To Relieve Breast Tenderness or Pain
  60. Consumer Health: Are You Due for A Mammogram?
  61. Consumer Health: Breast Implants and Cancer Risk
  62. Consumer Health: What Is A Mammogram, and Why Are They Important?
  63. Coppafeel.org [CoppaFeel! United Kingdonm]
  64. Dense Breast Tissue: What It Means To Have Dense Breasts
  65. Dense Breasts
  66. Diagnosing Breast Conditions
  67. Does Breast or Ovarian Cancer Run In Your Family?
  68. Expert Alert: Awareness Key To Recognizing Breast Cancer Symptoms
  69. Familial Breast Cancer
  70. Fibrocystic Breast Changes: Linked To Breast Cancer?
  71. Fibrocystic Breasts
  72. Find It Early and Survive
  73. Five Ways To Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk
  74. Genetic Testing To Learn about Your Risk of Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Questions for the Doctor
  75. How Should I Check My Breasts?
  76. How To Check Yourself
  77. How To Lower Heart Disease and Breast Cancer Risk At the Same Time
  78. If Silicone Breast Implants Rupture, What Are the Possible Complications?
  79. Infographic: Breast Cancer Risk – Tailoring Breast Cancer Screening To Each Woman’s Risk
  80. Is It Bad to Not Wear a Bra?
  81. Is There Any Connection Between Breast Implants and Cancer? And If So, How Serious Is the Risk?
  82. Mammograms
  83. Mayo Clinic Expert Answers Questions About Breast Cancer Screening, Levels of Risk and Latest In Imaging [+ Video]
  84. Mayo Clinic Minute: Determining If You Have Dense Breasts [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  85. Mayo Clinic Minute: Don’t Delay Mammograms, Other Breast Cancer Screening [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  86. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is Molecular Breast Imaging and Who Needs It? [+ Video]
  87. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Breast Cancer Screening Is Important [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  88. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Family Health History Information: DEAR MAYO CLINIC: My grandmother died of breast cancer at 70. My first cousin was recently diagnosed at 35…
  89. Mayo Clinic Q and A: Genetic Abnormalities and Cancer Risk
  90. Mayo Clinic Q&A Podcast: Different Options for Breast Cancer Screening
  91. Mayo Clinic Researchers Advocate New Approach To Breast Cancer Prevention
  92. Nationalbreastcancer.org [National Breast Cancer Foundation, United States]
  93. Non-Cancerous Breast Conditions
  94. Predictive Genetic Tests for Cancer Risk Genes
  95. Reducing Your Risk
  96. Significado De Los Cambios En Los Senos: Guía Para La Salud De La Mujer
  97. Video Series-2022: Understanding Screening Guidelines for Breast Cancer and the Importance of Identifying Risk Factors
  98. What To Know About Breast Implants
  99. What Would You Tell Your Patients About Drinking Alcohol and Breast Cancer Risk?
  100. Who Is At High Risk for Breast Cancer? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness – Breast Awareness. Updated: 12 October 2021. Cancer Australia https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/awareness/breast-cancer-awareness Accessed: 11 September 2022
  2. Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness – Breast Awareness. Updated: 12 October 2021. Cancer Australia https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/awareness/breast-cancer-awareness Accessed: 11 September 2022
  3. Breast Self-Exam for Breast Awareness: About – Overview. 04 June 2022. Mayo Clinic https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/breast-exam/basics/definition/PRC-20020418 Accessed: 11 September 2022
  4. Aging Changes In the Breast. Review Date: 19 July 2020. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003999.htm Accessed: 11 September 2022
  5. Breast Health: Normal Breast Changes During Life. Updated October 2018:1. Jean Hailes for Women’s Health https://jeanhailes.org.au/contents/documents/Resources/Fact_sheets/Breast_health.pdf Accessed: 11 September 2022
  6. Aging Changes In the Breast. Review Date: 19 July 2020. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003999.htm Accessed: 11 September 2022
  7. Breast Changes and Conditions: Breast Changes During Your Lifetime That Are Not Cancer. Updated: 29 June 2019. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/breast-changes Accessed: 11 September 2022
  8. Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness – Breast Awareness. Updated: 12 October 2021. Cancer Australia https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/awareness/breast-cancer-awareness Accessed: 11 September 2022
  9. Diagnosing Breast Conditions: Participation In the NHS Breast Screening Programme (NHSBSP). Updated Date: April 2021. Women’s Health Concern https://www.womens-health-concern.org/help-and-advice/factsheets/diagnosing-breast-conditions/ Accessed: 11 September 2022
Topic Last Updated: 20 October 2022 – Topic Last Reviewed: 11 September 2022

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