October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. In addition to being the month for fundraising efforts for this important cause, October is a great time to spread awareness about breast cancer, specifically early detection. PGOMG works hard to educate our patients on the importance of performing self breast exams for early detection of any changes.
We’ve even prepared a simple guide: Self Breast Exam in Three Easy Steps for you to use on your own time in the privacy of your home Women are generally advised to begin performing self breast exams, in their twenties.
A lot of women put off seeing their doctor to have a professional breast exam or mammogram for a variety of reasons, some of which can include that they don’t have a family history of breast cancer so they feel they don’t have to be concerned, or on the opposite end of the spectrum, they are so afraid that they could have breast cancer that they simply avoid treatment and care altogether. These thoughts and fears are common, which is why it is so important that we all work together to develop of culture and community of education on the topic of breast cancer. With one in eight women diagnosed with the disease at some point, there are simply too many women whose lives can be saved via early detection.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), breast cancer is the most common cancer among women globally. Hundreds of thousands are personally affected each year, along with their families and friends. At PGOMG, we are on your, and we always take our patient’s concerns seriously. We hope you will take the time to perform a self breast exam today or schedule an appointment so one of our trained physicians can perform a professional breast exam. Here are important things to note while performing a breast self exam:
- Tenderness/sensitivity/pain in your breasts
- Changes in the skin of the breast/nipples
- Swelling, redness or dimpling
- A lump in your breast or underarm
- Discharge
If you find are experiencing any of the above issues, it is essential that you contact your PGOMG provider as soon as possible to schedule an appointment. Your provider will determine if there is a need for further testing or treatment. Call (415) 923-3123 to schedule your appointment.
