Aspirus Health is empowering women with vital information to recognize the many ways breast cancer can appear.
While most women understand the importance of breast self-checks, many have only been trained to feel for a lump or small mass. Dr. Cecilia Stroede, Aspirus breast surgeon, urges women to also be aware of other potential breast changes that may signal that something is wrong.
“We’re kind of trained to feel for that little pea or that little lump,” Stroede said. “There are other types of breast cancer that are going to manifest a little more like a texture difference. So, you may notice asymmetry. Texture differences in one breast and not the other is relevant. Sometimes patients come in with a noticeable texture difference but no defined mass. They assume that means everything is fine, but texture changes can be just as significant.”
In addition to monthly self-checks at home, all women aged 40 and older are urged to get a yearly mammogram. Mammograms can detect abnormalities before they can be felt or seen, greatly improving treatment outcomes.
“There is a definite benefit in finding smaller things at an earlier point,” Stroede said.
