Breast Anatomy

The anatomical structure of the breast is not as simple as it looks. In addition to being attractive to women, the organs in this section also have a role in sexual activity and provide breast milk for babies.

Breasts generally begin to develop when a person enters puberty.

Their shape and size usually don’t change again after that. Even so, significant breast changes can also occur while pregnant.

The reason is because the stimulation of the hormone estrogen causes the breasts to look bigger. This hormone also makes the nipple appear darker.

Here are the characteristics of healthy breasts:

• No Lumps
  • Lumps that appear around the breasts or armpits can be a sign of a tumor / cyst. If within 6 weeks the lump does not go away, consult your doctor immediately.
• No Nipple discharge
  • With the exception of breast milk / breast fluids that appear before menopause, we need to be vigilant when the breasts secrete greenish / clear / red discharge on one of the nipples.
• It doesn’t hurt
  • Breast pain just before the menstrual cycle is normal and usually goes away on its own. However, if after menstruation the pain / pain in the breasts doesn’t go away, immediately consult a doctor.
• There is no change in the skin of the breast
  • Healthy breasts are generally seen from the condition of their skin that is not dry, cracked, wrinkled, scaly, and reddish.

Here is how to maintain healthy breasts.

• Quit smoking

The content in cigarettes can not only cause lung cancer, but can also cause breast cancer. A study revealed that women who actively smoke are more at risk for breast cancer than those who do not smoke.

• Limit your consumption of alcohol

Having healthy breasts will be much more difficult if you continue to drink alcohol. Research states that women who drink alcoholic beverages every day can increase their risk of breast cancer by 20%.

• Eat healthy foods

Implementing a healthy diet by prioritizing the consumption of fruits, vegetables, nuts, can help reduce the risk of breast cancer.

• Exercise regularly

also proven to be able to prevent breast cancer. According to research, women who rarely or never exercise have a higher risk of developing breast cancer.

Therefore, it is important to do moderate intensity exercise, at least 2.5 hours per week.

To detect whether we have breast cancer can be done alone. Breast self-examination (BSE) is done using hands and vision to check if there are physical changes in the breasts. This process is carried out so that all changes that lead to more serious conditions can be handled immediately.

Here are some ways to do Breast Self-Examination

1. Pay attention to your breasts, most women do not have the same size breast (the right breast is bigger or smaller than the others).
2. Stand with your arms at your sides. Pay attention to the shape, size, and whether there are changes such as the surface and color of the skin, as well as the shape of the nipples.
3. Place your hands on your hips and press firmly to tighten your chest muscles. Pay attention to the breasts while looking in the mirror from left to right and vice versa.
4. Bend over in front of the mirror so that your breasts are sticking down. Pay attention and feel to check if there are certain changes in the breast.
5. Link your hands behind your head and press inward. Pay attention to your two breasts, including at the bottom.
6. Check for any discharge from your nipples. Place your thumb and index finger around your nipple, then press gently, and watch for any discharge. Repeat on the other breast.

The best time to do Breast self-examination is a few days after your menstrual period ends. During menstruation, hormone levels fluctuate, causing changes in the body, including tighter breasts.