Knowledge about breast cancer is appropriate even for teens.
As a girl enters her teen years, she begins to become more aware of her body. She may also begin to become aware of the many medical threats her body can face throughout her lifetime. Breast cancer is a devastating and often fatal affliction that largely affects women. It is also the second most common cancer in females. Though it mainly occurs in older women, it is never too early for a girl to be aware of the cancer, its appearance and its preventions.
Self Examination
Most gynecologists recommend a girl begin self breast examinations as soon as she has breasts to examine. Although cancer is rare in a teen, it is good for a girl to become familiar with how her breast feels when it is healthy. Pressing the breast in a circular motion once a month is usually enough for a teen breast self exam. However, a teen should be aware that as she grows, her breast and its feel may change with her and that a certain amount of soft lumpiness is normal.
Normal Lumps
A teen's breast tissue often has a more lumpy feel than that of an older woman, and these lumps do not usually indicate breast cancer. They are simply due to all the physical changes during breast growth. Harmless, non-cancerous lumps can sometimes appear around the time of a girl's period. YoungWomensHealth.org recommends that if a teen notices a lump in her breast, to check to see if it is still there a few days after her period. If it is, contact a physician immediately.
Things to Avoid
A teen girl has a distinct advantage in preventing her own breast cancer since she has a lifetime of healthy options still to choose. Some of the things believed to increase the incidence of breast cancer can be easily avoided. These include avoiding lifestyle choices that lead to obesity and high alcohol consumption. If possible, it is wise to also avoid hormone replacement therapy and prolonged exposure to radiation.
Things To Do
Contrarily, there are some behaviors and procedures that are believed to fight breast cancer. Most of these are medical procedures, conditions or medications. One of these factors appears to be teen pregnancy and breastfeeding. Pregnancy decreases estrogen, which is linked to reducing breast cancer. Studies show that cancer levels are lowest in women who have their first pregnancy before the age of 20. However, pregnancy is not a recommended cancer-deterrent for teen girls. What is recommended is exercise, with research showing that women exercising four or more hours a week have lower cancer rates.
Myths
There are many myths about what can increase your likelihood of breast cancer, and teen girls are often victims of such misinformation. The following things have NOT been shown to have any effect on whether a woman gets breast cancer. Abortions, oral contraceptives, particular diets (as long as they don't result in obesity) and environment. Even smoking has not actually been shown to increase breast cancer occurrence, although it is a contributor to many other types of cancer.
Tags: breast cancer, been shown, teen breast, teen girls
