Breast Awareness

“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…”.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?

In Breast Health: Follow-Up After An Abnormal Mammogram: Breast Lumps and Changes During Your Lifetime the (United States) National Cancer Institute (NCI) explain:

  • “As you approach menopause, your hormone levels change. This can make your breasts feel tender, even when you are not having your period. Your breasts may also feel lumpier during menopause than they did before”.5

In Aging Changes In the Breast the MedlinePlus note:


Breast Awareness“Breast lumps are common around the time of menopause. These are usually 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 regular physical examinations and mammogram to screen for breast cancer”.6

Menopausal Hormone Therapy

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

In Breast Health: Follow-Up After An Abnormal Mammogram: Breast Lumps and Changes During Your Lifetime the NCI clarify:

  • “If you are taking hormones (such as hormone replacement therapy, birth control pills, or injections), your breasts may become more dense. This can make a mammogram more difficult to interpret”.7

Health Care Provider

What are changes to look for?

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

“Breast changes to look out 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”.8

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 A-Z 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.

New or Updated

  1. 6 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. Assessing Breast Cancer Risk
  7. BMS TV: HRT and Breast Cancer: Overall Risks and Benefits
  8. BMS TV: HRT and the Risk of Breast Cancer
  9. Be Breast Aware
  10. Beyond BRCA1/2: Pinpointing the Risk of Inherited Breast Cancer Genes
  11. Breast Awareness
  12. Breast Awareness: Know What To Look For
  13. Breast Awareness: Self Examination
  14. Breast Cancer
  15. Breast Cancer
  16. Breast Cancer Awareness
  17. Breast Cancer Awareness Month [October, Australia]
  18. Breast Cancer Awareness Month [October, United Kingdom]
  19. Breast Cancer Awareness Month [October, United States]
  20. Breast Cancer Awareness [+ Video: When Should I Start Getting Mammograms?]
  21. Breast Cancer Awareness: The Importance of Self Exams and Knowing Your Risk Factors
  22. Breast Cancer In Women
  23. Breast Cancer Risk Factors
  24. Breast Cancer Screening
  25. Breast Cancer Symptoms
  26. Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness
  27. Breast Cancer: Information In Other Languages
  28. Breast Cancer: What Does It Mean To Have Dense Breasts?
  29. Breast Cancer: What Is A Mammogram?
  30. Breast Cancer: What You Can Do
  31. Breast Care and Self-Care Examination
  32. Breast Checks: Breast Awareness
  33. Breast Cysts
  34. Breast Diseases
  35. Breast Enlargement (Implants)
  36. Breast Health
  37. Breast Health During Menopause
  38. Breast Health: What’s Normal and What Changes To Look For
  39. Breast Implants
  40. Breast Implants: Do They Interfere With Mammograms?
  41. Breast Implants: Saline vs. Silicone
  42. Breast Lump or Breast Changes: Early Evaluation Is Essential
  43. Breast Lumps
  44. Breast Lumps
  45. Breast Lumps and Benign (Not Cancer) Breast Conditions
  46. Breast Lumps: When To See A Doctor
  47. Breast Pain
  48. Breast Pain
  49. Breast Pain
  50. Breast Pain
  51. Breast Rashes
  52. Breast Self-Exam
  53. Breast Self-Exam
  54. Breast Self-Exam
  55. Breast Self-Exam for Breast Awareness
  56. Breast and Cervical Cancer Screening
  57. Breastcancer.org
  58. Breastcancercare.org.uk
  59. Common Breast Conditions
  60. Consumer Health: Breast Cancer Screening
  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 Kingdom]
  64. Dense Breasts
  65. Does Breast or Ovarian Cancer Run In Your Family?
  66. Does Menopause Cause Breast Pain
  67. Familial Breast Cancer
  68. Fibrocystic Breasts
  69. Find It Early and Survive
  70. Five Ways To Reduce Your Breast Cancer Risk
  71. Genetic Testing To Learn About Your Risk of Breast and Ovarian Cancer: Questions for the Doctor
  72. How Should I Check My Breasts?
  73. How To Check Your Breasts, Pecs or Chest [+ Video: How To Check Your Boobs]
  74. If Silicone Breast Implants Rupture, What Are the Possible Complications?
  75. Infographic: Breast Cancer Risk – Tailoring Breast Cancer Screening To Each Woman’s Risk
  76. Is It Bad To Not Wear A Bra?
  77. Is There Any Connection Between Breast Implants and Cancer? And If So, How Serious Is the Risk?
  78. Know Your Normal
  79. Learn More About Mammography During Breast Cancer Awareness Month
  80. Mammograms
  81. Many Women Don’t Think Breast Density Is Important Risk Factor
  82. Mayo Clinic Minute: Breast Health During Menopause
  83. Mayo Clinic Minute: Does Soy Increase Breast Cancer Risk? [+ Video]
  84. Mayo Clinic Minute: The Importance of Supplemental Screenings for Dense Breasts [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  85. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Does A Diagnosis of Dense Breasts Mean? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  86. Mayo Clinic Minute: What Is A Breast Medicine Specialist? [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  87. Mayo Clinic Minute: Why Breast Cancer Screening Is Important [+ Video Courtesy: Mayo Clinic News Network]
  88. Mayo Clinic Q and A: What Is Benign Breast Disease?
  89. Menopause and HRT
  90. Nationalbreastcancer.org [National Breast Cancer Foundation, United States]
  91. Non-Cancerous Breast Conditions
  92. Not All Lumps Are Breast Cancer: Benign Breast Disease
  93. Reducing Your Risk
  94. Video Series-2023: Lifestyle Modification and Prevention of Breast Cancer
  95. Video Series-2023: NAMS 2023 Nonhormone Therapies Position Statement for Bothersome Menopause Symptoms
  96. Video Series-2023: New FDA-Approved Nonhormone Option for the Treatment of Hot Flashes
  97. What Does A Diagnosis of Dense Breasts Mean?
  98. What Is Chasteberry, and What Can It Do?
  99. What To Know About Breast Implants
  100. When Is A Breast Lump More Than A Lump?

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: 06 July 2023. Cancer Australia https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/awareness/breast-cancer-awareness Accessed: 25 January 2024
  2. Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness – Breast Awareness. Updated: 06 July 2023. Cancer Australia https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/awareness/breast-cancer-awareness Accessed: 25 January 2024
  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: 25 January 2024
  4. Aging Changes In the Breast. Review Date: 21 July 2022. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003999.htm Accessed: 25 January 2024
  5. Breast Health: Follow-Up After An Abnormal Mammogram: Breast Lumps and Changes During Your Lifetime. Updated: 02 March 2023. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/breast-changes Accessed: 25 January 2024
  6. Aging Changes In the Breast. Review Date: 21 July 2022. MedlinePlus https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/003999.htm Accessed: 25 January 2024
  7. Breast Health: Follow-Up After An Abnormal Mammogram: Breast Lumps and Changes During Your Lifetime. Updated: 02 March 2023. National Cancer Institute https://www.cancer.gov/types/breast/breast-changes Accessed: 25 January 2024
  8. Breast Cancer: Breast Cancer Awareness – Breast Awareness. Updated: 06 July 2023. Cancer Australia https://www.canceraustralia.gov.au/cancer-types/breast-cancer/awareness/breast-cancer-awareness Accessed: 25 January 2024
Topic Last Updated: 12 April 2024 – Topic Last Reviewed: 25 January 2024

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