After Menstruation, Don't Forget to BSE to Detect Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is a type of cancer that occurs when malignant cells grow in breast tissue. These cells can form tumors that can be felt during a physical examination or detected through mammography.

Signs of breast cancer to watch out for:

• Lump or change in shape of the breast.
• Swelling in the armpit.
• Changes in the breast skin, such as redness or shrinking.
• Changes in the nipple, such as retraction or discharge.
• Pain or discomfort in the breasts.

One effort that can be made to detect breast cancer is to do BSE (Examine Your Breasts).

BSE is a simple procedure that is easy to perform, painless and costs nothing but still has high detection sensitivity.

BSE can be done every month when :

• Women who are still menstruating on the 7th - 10th day after the first day of menstruation.
• Menopausal women can do BSE on the same date every month.

Steps to do BSE:

• Stand up straight. Pay attention to any changes in the shape and surface of the breast skin, swelling and/or changes in the nipples. Are your right and left breasts asymmetrical? Don't worry, it's normal.
• Raise both arms up, bend your elbows and position your hands behind your head. push your elbows forward and look closely at your breasts; and push your elbows back and look at the shape and size of your breasts.
• Position both hands on your waist, lean your shoulders forward so that your breasts hang down, and push your elbows forward, then tighten (contract) your chest muscles.
• Raise your left arm up, and bend your elbow so that your left hand is holding the top of your back. Using the fingertips of your right hand, touch and press the breast area, and look closely at the entire left breast down to the armpit area. Do up-down movements, circular movements and straight movements from the edge of the breast to the nipple, and vice versa. Repeat the same movement on your right breast.
• Pinch both nipples. Pay attention if there is fluid coming out of the nipple. Consult a doctor if this happens.
• In a lying position, place a pillow under your right shoulder. Raise your arms up.
• Look closely at the right breast and do the three movement patterns as before. Using the tips of your fingers, press all parts of the breast up to around the armpit.

BSE is important to do as an effort to care for health because everyone, especially women, is at risk of developing breast cancer. By doing BSE regularly, it means that Hermina's friends have made an effort to protect and prevent the threat of cancer. The earlier breast cancer is detected, the more treatment therapy options there are, and the higher the chance of cure, thereby reducing the total treatment costs that must be incurred.