These steps will help you detect and prevent breast cancer

If you’re concerned about breast cancer, you might be wondering if there are steps you can take toward breast cancer prevention. Some risk factors, such as family history, can’t be changed. However, there are lifestyle changes you can make to lower your risk.

Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a red or scaly patch of skin.

Is that a lump I can feel? Should I be worried about the dimpled skin there? What exactly am I feeling for?

Those were the concerns of Corrine Beaumont, a young designer, who created the ‘Know Your Lemons’ campaign, which has been shared more than 32,000 times on Facebook in past one year. Now, let’s know how breast cancer look or feel like? Here are some signs which can help you detect it:

1. Thick Area
You may notice your skin feels thickened and/or there is an obvious lump in the breast.
2. Dimple
A dimple or indentation in the breast can happen when tight clothing leaves a temporary indent.
3. Nipple Crust
Crust on the nipple can be a harmless skin condition or it could be a sign of breast cancer called “Paget’s disease.”
4. Red or Hot
Typically this is an infection or a skin symptom common to breastfeeding or eczema. But if continued for long then it might be the case of breast cancer.so it’s safe to get diagnosed.
5. Unexpected Fluid
Discharge from the nipple is common and is mostly harmless (benign).
6. Skin Sores
Breast cancer can sometimes build up to the point that it breaks down skin to form an open wound.
7. Bump
Sometimes a cancerous lump is on the surface of the breast. However, not all lumps and bumps are cancer.
8. Sunken Nipple
If you notice your nipple changing and flattening or turning inwards, it could be a sign of a new breast cancer.
9. Growing Vein
If veins become more pronounced on the skin outside of these changes, on the breast or near the collarbone this could be a sign of a breast cancer.
10. New Shape or Size
If one breast changes size, flattens, swells, or droops unexpectedly—and persists beyond your period—this could be a sign of breast cancer.
11. “Orange Peel” Skin
This is when the skin of the breast looks like the dimpled skin of an orange. With this, the breast swells causing hair follicles to look like lots of little dimples.
12. Hard Lump
The most common sign of breast cancer is a lump deep in the breast.

The following are steps you can take to lower your risk of breast cancer with help of lifestyle changes which have proven to decrease breast cancer risk even in high-risk women:

1. Limit alcohol

The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk of developing breast cancer.

2. Don’t smoke

Accumulating evidence suggests a link between smoking and breast cancer risk, particularly in premenopausal women.

3. Control your weight.

Being obese increases the risk of breast cancer. This is especially true if obesity occurs later in life, particularly after menopause.

4. Be physically active

Physical activity can help you maintain a healthy weight, which, in turn, helps prevent breast cancer.

5. Breast-feed.

Breast-feeding might play a role in breast cancer prevention. The longer you breast-feed, the greater the protective effect.

6. Limit dose and duration of hormone therapy

Combination hormone therapy for more than three to five years increases the risk of breast cancer. If you’re taking hormone therapy for menopausal symptoms, ask your doctor about other options.

7. Avoid exposure to radiation and environmental pollution

Reduce your exposure by having such tests only when absolutely necessary and try to cover yourself in polluted areas.

If you notice any changes in your breasts, such as a new lump or skin changes, consult your doctor.