Presenter Notes The purpose of the presentation kit is to raise awareness of breast health. It was developed to: • encourage participants to be breast aware • help participants understand the risk factors for breast cancer and learn about ways to reduce the risk Each kit includes: • a breast health presentation • a myth buster game • resources Know Your Breasts bookmark Your Breasts pamphlet further reading and resource list The information in this kit is evidence and research based and will be updated as necessary. Contact the WRHA Breast Health Centre at 204-235-3906 for updates. Your Breast Health your breast health Ask participants: What three words come to mind when you think of breast health? Allow time for participant responses. • You may not have thought about your breasts or breast health until: – you were pregnant – you had your baby and considered breastfeeding. – you noticed a change in your breasts – you know someone who has been diagnosed with breast cancer • We know that for some women breast health is a sensitive topic. It is also an important topic to have information about, so we hope today that you will feel comfortable to share and talk about things or to just listen to the information. your breast health wrha.mb.ca/bhc the 3Bs of breast health The three B’s of breast health include: be breast aware, be healthy and be informed. • Being healthy involves choosing lifestyle habits to help decrease your risk of breast cancer. • Being aware means looking at your breasts, touching them and knowing how they change each month around the time of your menstrual period, during pregnancy, while breastfeeding and as you age. If you are familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel and change through time, you are more likely to notice changes that are not normal for you. • Being aware also involves understanding general risk factors and your personal risk factors for breast cancer. • Being informed means knowing where to get information and support. Talk to your health care provider (public health nurse, doctor, health practitioner etc.) about your breast health, your risks, breast screening guidelines and breast cancer. Being informed helps you make healthy decisions about your breast health. the 3Bs of breast health wrha.mb.ca/bhc Be Aware – your breasts • The breast is made up of glandular, fatty and connective tissue. It helps give the breast shape. • Breast tissue covers the area from your armpit up to your collar bone and reaching to your breast bone. • The breast’s main function is to make, store and give milk to feed the baby. • Milk is made in lobules of the breast when hormones in a woman’s body stimulate them after giving birth. • Each breast has thin tubes or ducts joining the nipple to the sections called lobules which are pictured in red on the diagram. In each lobule are tiny, hollow sacs or alveoli. If you're breast-feeding, ducts carry milk from the alveoli toward the dark area of skin around the nipple which is called the areola. • The areola around the nipple has small sweat glands that release moisture to make breast feeding more comfortable. Be Aware – your breasts wrha.mb.ca/bhc Be Aware – breast changes over your lifetime • Many breast changes are caused hormone levels in our body going up and down. o Estrogen is the main female hormone. It helps us to grow breasts and to have babies. The ovaries make most of the estrogen in a woman’s body. o Progesterone is the other female hormone. It helps prepare the uterus for pregnancy and the breast to make milk for breastfeeding the baby. • In the early teens, you developed breast buds that grew into the breasts you have today. • During pregnancy – hormone levels are higher. Breasts become firm, tender and increase in size. The nipples and areolas may get darker and may remain that way after you have the baby. • During breastfeeding – breasts become swollen and tender. Nipples can become cracked and sore. Some women may get a breast infection called mastitis. Mastitis can cause a fever and a hard, red, swollen area in the breast; even muscle aches or chills. It is often treated with antibiotics. You should see your health care provider if you have these symptoms. • As women age and go into menopause, hormone levels become low and the breasts become soft, less tender and often hang lower or sag. Be Aware - breast changes over your lifetime wrha.mb.ca/bhc Be Aware – what is normal? Every woman’s breasts are different. Ask participants: What does a “normal” breast look or feel like? Allow time for participants to respond. Breasts can be have many differences and these may be normal for you: • One breast larger than the other • Nipples can be flat instead of pointing out • Hair growing around the areola or nipple area • Areolas can be different colours, shapes and sizes • Breast can have stretch marks • Breast swelling and tenderness especially around your menstrual period • Non cancerous lumps • Nipple discharge Be Aware – what is normal? • Every woman’s breasts are different • Breasts comes in different sizes and shapes So…don’t worry! wrha.mb.ca/bhc What are some common concerns women have about their breasts? Ask participants: What do you think are the most common concerns women will see their health care provider for in regards to their breasts? Allow participants time to share their thoughts. Answer: Common things women see their health care provider for are nipple discharge, a breast lump and breast pain. Let’s talk about each of these briefly: • Nipple discharge. Nipple discharge can happen when a woman’s breast is squeezed. A small amount of discharge may come from the nipple. It may be green, yellow, brown, grey or a combination of these colours. This is normal for many women and often happens before menopause. Do not squeeze the nipple or breast. This can cause more discharge because it stimulate hormones. • A breast lump. The breast can be lumpy because of the different tissues that make up the breast. Most often, lumps in the breast are part of the normal tissue. Sometimes women have cysts that make the breasts feel lumpy. These are common and do not cause breast cancer or mean you will get breast cancer. Fibrocystic breast changes or breasts that feels lumpy or rope-like in texture are common changes of breast tissue. • Breast pain. Breast pain is common in women. It is not usually caused by cancer. The cause of breast pain is unknown. It may be related to hormonal changes, fibrocystic changes to the breast, cysts in the breast, breast surgery or irritation of the breast bone or ribs. • It is normal to have mild breast pain 2-3 days just before a menstrual period and sometimes breast pain happens at other times. It can be in both breasts, one breast, or in only one part of the breast. The pain can go to other areas such as the armpit or down the arm. • Breast pain may be caused by wearing a bra that does not fit well. Seeing a trained bra fitter can help get the right fit and support for you. • You should see your health care provider about any breast pain that does not go away, gets worse, prevents you from sleeping or doing regular activities. Be Aware – common concerns What are some common concerns women have about their breasts? wrha.mb.ca/bhc Be Breast Aware • Get into a habit of checking your breasts from time to time. You can become breast aware in any way that feels comfortable and easy for you. It might mean looking and feeling your breasts while you are: o Looking in the mirror o Getting dressed o In the bath or shower o Standing up or lying down • Remember to include the areas above and below the breasts, including the armpits. • It is important to check your breasts throughout the month - before, in between and after your menstrual cycle - so you know what is normal for you at different times in the month. • Knowing what is normal for your breasts may help you find changes if they happen. If you see or feel a change, talk to your health care provider. Be Breast Aware • Look at and touch your breasts • Check the areas above and below the breasts, including armpits! wrha.mb.ca/bhc Be Aware – breast changes to watch for Ask participants: What are some potential breast changes to look for? • A lump in the breast that is not normal for you, is new, and/or doesn’t go away • A change in the size, shape or color of your breast • A change in the way your nipple looks • An eczema type rash on the nipple • Any discharge from the nipple that happens without squeezing the breast/nipple • New or bloody nipple discharge or discharge that is only from one nipple • Puckering or dimpling of the skin • Skin that looks like an orange or feels very thick • It is important not to ignore these signs or symptoms even if you are breastfeeding All of these changes should be assessed by your health care provider Be Aware - breast changes to watch for wrha.mb.ca/bhc Be Aware – breast cancer Ask participants: What is breast cancer? • Breast cancer is cancer that begins in the breast tissue. When breast cells are not working properly, they divide continually and a lump or tumor is formed. It is important to know that a small number of breast cancers do not form a lump.