While regular physical health screening can't prevent cancer, it can help pick up cancer early and when it's still easier to treat. Finding any changes early can save your life.
The first step to getting and keeping fit and healthy is to know your body. Breast cancer is the most common cancer in South African women, and it affects women of all ages, that is why screening for breast cancer is highly recommended.
Early detection saves lives
The earlier you detect cancer, the more treatable it usually is. Early treatment can also prevent cancer from spreading to the rest of the body. If left untreated, breast cancer may be deadly.
An early diagnosis following screening may or may not have been prompted by signs and symptoms of disease. Either way, early detection gives a person the best chance for a successful treatment. Left untreated or delayed lowers chances of survival significantly. In fact, when detected and diagnosed early, and it is in a localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is as high as 99%.
Screening through routine mammograms is the best way to pick up signs of disease at their earliest, most often before it's even become symptomatic. Monthly breast self-exams become increasingly important with age. Women can do these themselves or seek the professional assistance of qualified physician or nurse as part of routine check-ups.
Go for routine mammograms
A mammogram is a special kind of breast X-ray. Mammography is the gold standard for breast cancer screening since it can detect possible breast cancer before you show any signs or symptoms.
When you should start going for routine mammograms depends on your age and your risk of developing breast cancer. Most women start going for routine mammograms from age 40. You should discuss your risk and screening options with your doctor.
Get to know your breasts
The Cancer Society of South Africa (CANSA) and the Breast Health Foundation recommend that you carefully check your breasts at about the same time each month to check for changes.
Breasts come in all sizes and shapes, and it's normal for lumps to come and go with your menstrual cycle. Your breasts are also not necessarily the same size as each other. Therefore, it's important for you to know what's normal for your breasts.
According to CANSA, a breast self-examination is as easy as 1-2-3:
- Look at your breasts in the mirror and check for any changes in their look and feel.
- Lie down and examine the entire breast with your hand.
- While showering or in the bath, check your breast with a soapy hand.
Their video shows you how.
A CANSA centre or your doctor can also show you how to examine your breasts.
If you're worried about forgetting to examine your breasts each month, try downloading an app to help you remember.
Changes that could be a sign of cancer
You might think that the only change you're looking for is a lump. However, not all breast lumps are caused by cancer, especially if they come and go with your menstrual cycle.
If cancer is a concern, here's what to look out for:
- The skin around the breast wrinkling or puckering
- Lumps in the breast or armpit
- Change in the skin around the nipple
- Dimpling of the nipple
- One breast suddenly becoming bigger than the other
- One breast being unusually lower than the other
- Swollen glands.
It's important not to panic if you notice any of these signs. Rather schedule a consultation with your doctor for a full assessment of these signs and symptoms as soon as you notice them. The doctor may also recommend further tests. Remember, the earlier the better!
Make the most of your WELLTH Fund for additional screening tests you may need
Your mammogram is covered by your Screen and Prevention Benefit, but should further detection tests be required, the WELLTH Fund may be used to cover these.
The WELLTH Fund rewards correct screening and prevention behaviour once a Health Check has been completed by all members on a policy, the WELLTH Fund will be unlocked for everyone in the family to use. The fund is a once-in-a-lifetime benefit that covers a comprehensive list of discretionary healthcare services for all scheme members, in addition to the cancer screening and women's health screening already covered by the Screening and Prevention Benefit. The WELLTH Fund is available to members from 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2024.
So, should you need additional screening tests like a breast ultrasound (which is used to determine if a lump is a solid mass or fluid-filled cyst), or blood tests (especially a complete blood count), these can be processed through the WELLTH Fund. Any claims for screenings made against this fund will not impact your Medical Savings Account or Above Threshold Benefits. Nor is there any additional cost to you.
Learn more about how you can use your R2,500 WELLTH Fund allocation for other screening tests here.
All medical information found on this website including content, graphics and images, is for educational and informational objectives only. Discovery Health publishes this content to help to empower members and their families by promoting a better understanding on this matter. The views expressed by all of the contributing healthcare providers are their independent, professional medical opinions, aimed at supporting patients. These views do not necessarily constitute the views of Discovery Health.