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iii. Breast and Testicular Care
Breast Care
The hormones in girls’ bodies make their breasts react in certain ways. For instance, they often become fuller and a bit painful just before menstruation, when the hormones are at their most active after a period they may feel softer and smaller. Every girl’s breasts feel different. Some breasts feel gritty or have lumpy areas in them, others feel like thick foam, smooth and even all over. Nipples vary too in size, colour and
shape.
Monthly Breast Self-Exam
Breast self-exam means checking your breasts to see if there are any lumps or other irregularities that might be signs of breast cancer. Not all breast lumps are signs of cancer, but since cancer can appear as a small lump in the breast, it is important to examine your breasts and have a doctor check any lumps you find to rule out the possibility of breast cancer.
The self-exam should be done about once a month and right after your menstrual period and when you’re relaxed. The process involves looking at and feeling your breasts and can be done in any of the three ways described
below:
In the bathroom: Raise one arm. With fingers flat, touch every part of each breast gently feeling for a lump or thickening. Use your right hand to examine your left breast, your left hand for your right breast.
Before a mirror: With arms at your sides, then raised above your head, look carefully for changes in the size, shape and contour of each breast. Look for dimpling, or changes in skin texture. Gently squeeze both nipples and look for discharge.
Lying down: Place a towel or pillow under your right shoulder and your right hand behind your head. Examine your right breast with your left hand. Fingers flat press gently in small circles, starting at the outermost top edge of your breast and spiraling in toward the nipple. Examine every part of the breast. Repeat with left breast. With your arm resting on a firm surface, use the same circular motion to examine the underarm area. If you notice any thing unusual, consult your doctor.
Testicular Self-Exam
Cancer of the testes is not a particularly common form of cancer. But when it manifests, many men do not discover the tumor, or if they do, they do not see a doctor. The first sign is usually a painless lump in the testes, or a slight enlargement or change in consistency of the testes. It is therefore, advisable for every young man to learn how to do the testicular self-examination.
Do your self-examination after a warm bath or shower when the skin of the scrotum is relaxed. Examine each testicle gently with the fingers to check for any hard lumps. If a lump or a nodule is found, it will usually be on the sides or front of the testicle and should not be confused with the epididymis, which is located on the top and back side of the testicle. Though the lump may not be cancerous, it is best to see a doctor immediately.
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