- Share This Post
- Pin It
- 4
-
Sparkle (0)
Pink Ribbon Month aka Breast Cancer Awareness Month is almost here. Let's not get all caught up in "pink madness" and forget the more important topic: Breast Health. More particularly, breast health for our daughters. I don't think I'm alone in saying my mom was a good mom but she never talked to me about breast health. I didn't talk much to my daughters about breast health either.
The breast discussions tend to be focused on breast development, training bras, padded bras, dealing with emotional issues related to being smaller than other girls or larger than other girls and all of the emotional issues surrounding puberty and breast development. Sure, breast cancer was a topic of discussion but one that was too distant and not really related to me, or to my girls, because we didn't have anyone in our family or immediate circle who had breast cancer. Breast health is a topic that should be opened with our daughters early, so that they grow up knowledgeable about their breasts and their bodies. And, so they understand what breast cancer really is and how it may, or may not, affect them. Let's start with the basics "what is a breast?
Your breasts are mainly made up of fatty tissue containing thousands of tiny glands or lobules, designed to produce milk in late pregnancy and after childbirth. These lobules make up lobes that empty into tubes or ducts. These ducts connect together and channel to the nipples, delivering milk for breast-feeding. Each breast contains 5-10 ductal systems, 15-20 lobes - and roughly 1 million lobules. The nipple is surrounded by the areola, a darker area. Glands in the areola produce fluid to lubricate the nipple during breastfeeding. The remainder of each breast is made up of surrounding fatty and connective tissue. Ligaments and large muscles attached to the chest wall provide support.
It's important to know that breasts are different -- even our own two breasts are probably not going to look identical. This is a concept that girls should know from a very, very early age. Once breasts are really developing, it's a concept that is harder to wrap your head around because you're dealing with so many body image issues and emotional issues related to growing up. Another important bit of information that many smart adult women don't know is that breast tissue extends under the armpit.
Breast tissue actually extends beyond the visible breast into the axilla (armpit). In the armpit and breast area there are many lymph nodes (glands). These nodes contain 'fighter' cells that act as filters as fluid and cells from the breast pass through the node. They form part of the lymphatic system, which helps the body to fight infection.
Now that we know a lot about our breasts and what they do, it's time to think about how to take care of them. It isn't just about finding the "right-fitting and also attractive" bra and our daughters should know that -- WE should know that. There is some controversy over the breast self exam. Women often think that if they are doing self-exams regularly and not finding anything, then they're safe and healthy. That's not necessarily true. It's even more frightening that some women think they're "preventing" breast cancer by actually DOING these self-exams. That is definitely not true. It's vital to explain that self-exam is a tool to HELP detect any problem that may occur. If you're daughter is going to use this tool, then she needs to use it properly and understand what the self-exam is actually telling her about her breasts.
It's a good idea to examine your breasts once a month, and it makes sense to choose the same time each month because breasts usually change with the menstrual cycle. The best time to do a BSE is about a week after your period starts. There are two parts to a breast self-exam...
