Does wearing bra cause cancer?

Both active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke, charred and processed meat consumption, alcohol intake, exposure to pesticides, radiation, and environmental and dietary estrogens have all been investigated.

Of these environmental exposures, only high doses of ionizing radiation to the chest area, particularly during puberty, have been unequivocally linked with an increased risk of breast cancer in adulthood.

Early breast cancers may be asymptomatic, and pain and discomfort are typically not present. If a lump is discovered, the following may indicate a possible presence of breast cancer:

Change in the size or shape of the breast

Skin changes particularly dimpling of the skin over the breast

Recent nipple inversion or abnormalities

Unusual nipple discharge, particularly if blood-stained

A lump in the armpit

For a lot of women, accurate self-examination of the breast will suffice.

The following steps will aid in proper self-breast examination.

Step 1: Begin by looking at the breasts in the mirror with the shoulders straight and arms on the hips.

In the mirror, observe for unusual size, shape, and colour of the breasts. Also important to look for are unevenly shaped, distortion or swelling of either or both breasts.

Step 2: Do same as step 1, this time with the arms raised and look for the same changes.

Step 3: While at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood.

Step 4: Next, feel the breasts while lying down, using the right hand to feel the left breast and then the left hand for the right breast.

Using a firm, smooth touch with the finger pads of the hand, keeping the fingers flat and together, examine the breast thoroughly.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from the collarbone to the top of the abdomen, and from the armpit to the cleavage.

Do not forget to examine the "tail" of the breast which is the part into the armpit.

Follow a pattern to be sure that the whole breast is covered. It can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until the outer edge of the breast is reached.

The fingers can also be moved up and down vertically, in rows, reminiscent of mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women.

Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of the breasts including the tail of the breast: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Step 5: Finally, feel the breasts while standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower.

Cover the entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

If a palpable lump is found, breast cancer may be present if it is hard, irregular, nodular and fixed to the skin or muscle.

Any mass or suspicious findings noted on self-breast examination is an indication to get attention from a medical practitioner to confirm or discount the findings.

Breast cancer is often first detected as an abnormality on a mammogram before it is felt by the patient or health care provider.

Mammogram is a specialised X-ray used to examine the breast looking for early cancer.

During mammogram, the breasts are compressed between two firm surfaces to spread out the breast tissues. X-rays then capture black and white images of the breast that are displayed on a computer screen and read by a specialist. Mammogram can cause anxiety as suspicious findings may not always be cancerous.

Other imaging techniques that can be employed include ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Ultrasonography and MRI of the breasts are more sensitive than mammography for invasive cancer in non-fatty breasts.

Combined mammography, clinical examination, and MRI are more sensitive than any other individual test or combination of tests.

Source: The Mirror