Examine your breast at least once a month
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How To Examine Your Breasts

Most breast lumps are not caused by cancer, however they can be troublesome if not treated promptly.

Cancer Can Be Cured If Treated Soon Enough!!!

  • When you check, relax and don't hurry
  • Remember that you are looking for changes
  • Examine your breast at least once per month

Look First

  • Look - with your arms down. Look at your breast from all angles
  • Lift - put your hands on your head, look for any rash around the nipple or discoloration of the skin
  • Stretch - watching closely for any irregularity of shape or movement of breast, raise your arms above you're your head
  • Press - your hands firmly on your hips. Everything should move smoothly and evenly with no dimpling or puckering of the skin

AFTER LOOKING... FEEL

  • Lying on a flat surface, examine one breast, then the other.
  • Compare the two!!!

FEELING

  • Begin by squeezing the nipple gently, noting any discharge. Then using the flat of your fingers feel the breast gently by moving your hand in small circular movements
  • Work in a circular motion from the nipple outwards, checking always that the skin moves freely. Feel the full depth of your breast
  • Finish by feeling the tail of the breast, which runs up under your armpit
  • Repeat these movements with your arm above your head and your elbow bent. The breast gland is made up of many small parts, which you will probably be able to feel. No part should feel hard
  • If you find a lump consult your General practitioner

Painful Periods

Many women have painful periods, cramps and spasm for as long as they have periods. However, if your bleeding has become heavy or irregular it is important to visit your doctor for an examination.

  • Menstrual Cramps cause real pain.
  • 80% of women are affected in some way, it is extremely common.

What is the cause?

  • Roughly every four weeks female hormones cause the lining of the uterus to thicken in preparation for a fertilised egg to implant. If this does not happen the lining breaks off and passes through the vagina as menstrual blood.

Dysmenorrhoea

  • The (almost) un-spellable, unpronounceable, medical word for painful periods. Spasmodic Dysmenorrhoea: simply means pain that is caused by spasms.
  • Two hormones progesterone and prostaglandin's which cause these spasm are around in large amounts during menstruation. They help to expel blood around the vagina. Do not worry. The cause of your pains can then be identified and treated. Some conditions need specific treatment.

Pelvic Inflammatory Disease (PID )

  • An infection of the uterus and tubes which may cause pain throughout the menstrual cycle or just during periods. This infection is usually passed sexually.

Overian Cyst

  • Empty egg-sacks in the ovaries which fill up with fluid. These can cause pain due cycle, but it is often more severe during periods

Endometrial Polyps

  • These are growths of the lining of the uterus which form on a stalk and which can cause pain as they twist.
  • Often they cause heavy bleeding and sometimes spotting.

What can be done to help the pain?

  • Bath, rest and relaxation.
  • Heat and message.
  • Your diet.

Medical treatment

  • Some of the most helpful treatments are those that reduce muscle spasm.
  • Drugs like Aspirin, Ibuprofen, Mefenamic acids: are anti-prostaglandin's. This means they act against the substances produced by the body that cause the muscle of the uterus to contract. These tablets should not be taken if you have bad indigestion or stomach ulcers. They should always be taken with food.
  • Another option is Hormone treatment: this option should be discussed with your doctor if simple drug treatment hasn't helped. This treatment is based on the idea that it is an imbalance of female hormones.