Published on
Updated
Reading 2 mins.
in collaboration with
Dr Odile Bagot (Gynecologist-obstetrician)
A 29-year-old woman undergoing breast reduction has had her life transformed (and saved). During surgery, surgeons detected a cancerous tumor the size of a fist. An avoidable situation with a good self-examination? Odile Bagot, gynecologist, answers us.
This operation saved his life. According to information from Mirror, Savannah Wiley, a 29-year-old American, had to undergo an operation to reduce her H cup, because of back pain and an uncomfortable lump in her right breast. But a cyst diagnosed by doctors was nothing more than a malignant tumor the size of a fist. His daily life took a new turn.
Stage 4 cancer discovered
Following its reduction, tests confirmed that it was stage four breast cancer, also called metastatic cancer. This means that it has spread and is no longer located only in the part of the body initially affected by the disease.
“I felt like I lost my breath, explains the patient. Stage four means death, or so I imagined, I thought I was going to die very quickly.” However, a year after the grim discovery, the patient is in remission, after undergoing intensive oral chemotherapy. “Once a month I get injections of hormone blockers. They put me in menopause, so I’m in menopause at 30. I can never have children“ she indicates.
Can breast size hide a tumour?
Can the size of the breast interfere with the detection of a tumor by palpation? We asked the question to Dr. Odile Bagot, gynecologist and expert at Doctissimo, who tells us about a more nuanced difficulty:
“It’s not so much the size of the breast that will be embarrassing, to discover a tumor, as the nature of the breast itself. Remember that the breast is fat and “gland”. So when there is a lot of fat, and few glands, the breast remains fairly easy to feel, whatever its size, you will not miss a tumour. But a breast, even smaller, mainly made up of a Dense, dystrophic mammary gland may be more difficult to palpate. Finding a mass in this breast that is already hard, and may look like a bag of marbles, can be tricky.”
Self-palpation: instructions for acting faster
Nevertheless, the gynecologist then reminds us of the correct technique for monthly self-palpation, apart from the annual palpation carried out by her doctor.
- The first thing is the inspection : in front of a mirror with good lighting, and we look if there is no change in the shape of the breast, redness, retraction, orange peel appearance. We also look to see if there is any modification, by raising our arms;
- Then comes the palpation : fingertips, tapping a little with circular movements, framing by framing, separating the breast in 4. “And without forgetting that the breasts go up high towards the hollow of the armpit”. We thus go around the breast to realize that nothing has changed.
For a more frequent inspection, our expert suggests another technique: “It’s still the easiest in the shower. Using a shower gel or your soap, raise your arm, press by sliding the opposite hand over the entire breast, with small circular movements to check again for possible changes“.A quick and effective gesture to practice on a daily basis.