SELF-EXAMINATION OR BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION IS KEY TO THE EARLY DIAGNOSIS OF BREAST CANCER
Breast cancer is the main cancer in women. It is estimated that 1 in 8 women will suffer this cancer at some point in their lives. But the good news is that it is also one of the few that can be diagnosed early, and breast self-examination is a very powerful tool that we all have in our hands to prevent and protect ourselves.
But do you know when you should do it? And how to touch you? What things to look for?
Studies suggest that self-exploration remains an important route for the early detection of breast cancer (1), but also that how it is practiced has a great impact on its efficacy, especially in terms of regularity and technique.
That is why in B-wom we have decided to accompany women in creating this habit with a new functionality, free for all users, because we truly believe that it is a tool that can impact on the early detection and health of women. Update and the app and start!
WHY IS BREAST SELF-EXPLORATION IMPORTANT?
Although mammography is considered the main diagnostic method, studies confirm that a large percentage of women detect cancer themselves (43%), either through self-examination (25%) or accidentally (18%) (1) . It has also been observed that patients who discovered abnormalities in a self-examination also presented smaller tumors compared to other women (2)
This is due in large part to the fact that mammography is not a perfect method: it can bypass about 20% of breast cancer cases because they are not visible by this technique (false negatives). This occurs mainly in women under 50, since the breast tissue is still very dense and can make it difficult to see a tumor.
That is why other complementary tools such as self-examination, clinical breast exams, ultrasound or MRI can and should be used. The use of these last methods will be determined by the doctors according to the level of risk and situation of each person (depending on age, genetics, questions on a mammogram …).
However, breast self-examination is a practice that all women have in our hands to help us have an early detection in case of breast cancer. No matter your age or your level of risk or if you get regular mammograms. Breast self-examination is prevention and self-knowledge of your body, a way of saying: everything that is in my hand, I do.
BREAST SELF-EXAM IN B-WOM
We have been thinking a lot about how to help you create this habit and perfect it to the maximum so that it is really simple and effective. This is what we have done!
1. Monthly reminders:
Frequency is important, so we take care to remind you when to do so that you can easily integrate the habit in your life. How? In your section Day by day and with an email. Later, the app will notify you at the best time according to your menstrual cycle.
2. Step-by-step guide
A web says one thing, a video on YouTube another, where is that brochure that the doctor gave me? … Do not worry, now in B-wom you have a guide created by specialists that tells you how to look at you, how to touch you and what you have to fix yourself in, easily and step by step.
3. Collect your results
In the same app in the same you can keep track of your self-exams and note if you have noticed any anomaly to communicate easily and clearly to your doctor.
Update the app now and start creating this habit. Breast self-examination is prevention and self-awareness of your body. Let not all be in the month of October and the pink bows!