How your daughter can be “breast aware”

When talking to your daughter about the importance of knowing her breasts,  ensure that she is looking at the entire breast tissue area, which covers an area larger than you may realize. It extends up to the collarbone and from the armpit across to the breastbone in the centre of the chest. The breasts sit on the chest muscles that cover the ribs.

What your daughter should look for:

• lump in the breast tissue
• lump or swelling in the armpit
• changes in breast size or shape
• dimpling or puckering of the skin –  thickening and dimpling skin is sometimes called orange peel
• redness, swelling and increased warmth in the affected breast
• inverted nipple – nipple turns inwards
• crusting or scaling on the nipple

Remember, lumps in the breast are very common, especially just before having a period. Most lumps are not breast cancer.

Having any one of these symptoms does not mean that your daughter has breast cancer as it may be caused by another health problem; however, if any of these symptoms are found, make an appointment for her with your family doctor. More information about breast cancer can be found at www.cancer.ca