Dr. Kiril Rusinov, MARKOVS Medical Center: This is the examination that could save your life!
October always arrives with its pink ribbon – a symbol of the fight against breast cancer and a reminder that women’s health deserves attention every day, not just once a year.
Each year, around 4,000 new cases of breast cancer are diagnosed in our country, and statistics show that one in every eleven women in Europe will face this disease at some point in her life.
These numbers are alarming, but behind them lies hope – when the disease is detected early, treatment is successful in over 90% of cases.
Breast cancer does not always show symptoms in its early stages.
Тhat’s why preventive screening is not unnecessary – it’s vital.
My work as a doctor is not only to make diagnoses, but to give confidence.
In my practice as a specialist in mammology and diagnostic imaging, I see how much fear hides behind a simple postponement.
“I’ll go next week,” “I don’t have any symptoms,” “I’m still breastfeeding”… — these are phrases I hear all the time.
And it’s exactly in these words that time is lost — time that can sometimes be crucial.A timely examination is not a formality.
It is prevention, early diagnosis, reassurance.
Even the smallest changes — a small lump, hardening, or a change in the skin or shape of the breast — deserve attention.
And when there are no symptoms at all? That’s when the check-up becomes even more important.
Many women come to me saying, “I don’t have any complaints, I just decided to check,” — and it’s often this “just a check-up” that turns out to be the reason they’re healthy today.
Regular self-examination doesn’t replace a specialist’s check-up, but it is the first and most personal step toward early detection of changes. Take a few minutes once a month — it’s a small amount of time that can make an enormous difference.
1. Choose the right time
The best time for self-examination is 5–7 days after the start of your period, when your breasts are not tense or sensitive. For women in…menopause, it’s best to choose the same day each month — for example, the first day of the month.
2.Examine yourself carefully in front of a mirror
Stand in front of a mirror with your arms relaxed, then raise them above your head.Observe any changes in the shape or size of your breasts, dimpling of the skin or nipple, redness, rash, flaking, or swelling.
Even the smallest change deserves attention.
3.Palpate (feel) with gentle circular movements
Use the pads of your fingers, not the fingertips. Move over the entire breast with circular motions — from the outer part toward the nipple, then back again.
Repeat both while standing and lying down, as the position of the breasts changes and you may feel things differently.
4.Check your underarm areas
Gently feel the area under your arms and around your collarbone.
There are lymph nodes located there, which can sometimes be the first sign of a change. If you feel a lump — even if it’s not painful — consult a specialist.
5.Don’t delay seeking medical advice
If you have doubts If you notice dimpling, thickening, nipple discharge, or any change in the skin, don’t wait for it to “go away.”
Make an appointment with a diagnostic imaging specialist.
