Be aware of your breast health

FOR MANY women, being aware of their breast health is overwhelming and unnecessary. However, it is important to know that taking care of your breast health, and knowledge of self-examination for breast cancer is the key element that can save you by early diagnosis of a life-threatening disease like breast cancer.

Women who are equipped with the knowledge of how to take care of their breasts and how to self-examine for different breast problems are more likely to have a low risk of breast cancer.

CLOSELY OBSERVE

When you closely observe your breasts, you will be able to identify small changes in them. Therefore, you will also be able to inform your doctor about any change if you do not feel right about it.

The breasts are made up of tissue also called glandular tissue and fat, along with nerves, veins, arteries, and connective tissue that helps hold everything in place.

Breast tissue is a complex network of lobules that are small round sacs that produce milk and milk ducts, canals that carry milk from the lobules to the nipple openings during breastfeeding, in a pattern that looks like bunches of grapes. These bunches are called lobes.

According to Dr Andre Williams, haematologist and integrative oncologist at Teshuva Wellness, breast development is a vital part of a woman’s reproduction.

CHANGES

“Breast development happens in certain stages during a woman’s life: first before birth, again at puberty, and later during the childbearing years. Changes also happen to the breasts during the menstrual cycle and when a woman reaches menopause,” Dr Williams said.

As a girl approaches her teen years, the first visible signs of breast development begin. According to Dr Williams, when the ovaries start to produce and release estrogen, fat in the connective tissue starts to collect. This causes the breasts to enlarge. The duct system also starts to grow and often these breast changes happen at the same time that pubic hair and armpit hair appear.

“Once ovulation and menstruation begin, the maturing of the breasts begins with the formation of secretory glands at the end of the milk ducts. The breasts and duct system continue to grow and mature, with the development of many glands and lobules. The rate at which breasts grow is different for each young woman,” Dr Williams said.

STIMULATE

Each month, women go through changes in the hormones that make up the normal menstrual cycle. The hormone estrogen is produced by the ovaries in the first half of the menstrual cycle. It stimulates the growth of milk ducts in the breasts.

“The increasing level of estrogen leads to ovulation halfway through the cycle. Next, the hormone progesterone takes over in the second half of the cycle. It stimulates the formation of the milk glands. These hormones are believed to be responsible for the cyclical changes that many women feel in their breasts just before menstruation. These include swelling, pain, and soreness,” Dr Williams said.

During menstruation, many women also have changes in breast texture. Their breasts may feel very lumpy as the glands in the breast are enlarging to get ready for a possible pregnancy. If pregnancy does not happen, the breasts go back to normal size. Once menstruation starts, the cycle begins again.

Breast changes are also one of the earliest signs of pregnancy. This is as a result of the hormone progesterone. In addition, the dark areas of skin around the nipples, the areolas, begin to swell. This is followed by the rapid swelling of the breasts themselves.

“Most pregnant women feel soreness down the sides of the breasts, and nipple tingling or soreness. This is because of the growth of the milk duct system and the formation of many more lobules,” Dr Williams said.

MUSCLE TISSUE

During pregnancy, the lobules grow and begin to produce milk. The milk is then released into the ducts so a mother can breastfeed her baby. Muscle tissue in the nipples allows them to become erect in response to stimulation or breastfeeding. Muscle tissue around the lobules helps squeeze milk into the ducts.

By the time a woman reaches her late 40s and early 50s, perimenopause is starting or is well under way. At this time, the levels of estrogen and progesterone begin to change. Estrogen levels dramatically decrease and this leads to many of the symptoms commonly linked to menopause.

After menopause when the ovaries stop producing hormones and a woman stops having periods, the number of lobules decreases and those that remain shrink in size.

As breast tissue decreases during menopause, breast density may also decrease.

The most important thing to remember when it comes to breast health, according to Dr Williams, is consistency. Preventative care, he said, is critical for maintaining good breast health and may help to decrease the risk of breast cancer.

“Every person’s breasts are a little bit different, so it is important to know what is normal for you. Once you establish that baseline, it is much easier to maintain good breast health and prevent breast cancer. Always report any sudden changes to your doctor as soon as possible. Even if it ends up being nothing serious, it is better to get checked out than let a sickness fester,” Dr Williams said.

For more information on how to improve your breast health, you can email healthtalksundays@gmail.com

- keisha.hill@gleanerjm.com