The breasts are the most important part of a woman's body, but breast health is easily damaged. Do you know these 8 secrets about women's breast health?
Q: Will "Princess Taiping" develop breast hyperplasia ?
A: It's unscientific to say that women with small breasts can't get breast diseases. Even women whose breast development stops early can experience various breast problems if their hormone levels become abnormal. Many of the breast disease patients I've seen are women with small breasts. Even men with endocrine disorders can develop breast diseases. Breast diseases are closely related to hormone balance, daily living environment, and work stress.
Q: What changes will occur in the breasts after pregnancy or childbirth ?
A: During pregnancy, breasts gradually enlarge. After childbirth or breastfeeding, breasts may sag and the cup size may decrease. This is called "breast aging," mainly because the breasts no longer produce milk, and some tissues begin to atrophy. To prevent breast sagging, women can try wearing supportive or sports bras to maintain their shape.
Q: Why are my breasts asymmetrical?
A: Even a small abnormality in breast tissue during embryonic development can lead to significant morphological differences after birth and adulthood. This mainly manifests as differences in the size of the breasts, nipples, and areolas, or them not being on the same horizontal line. Embryonic developmental abnormalities causing breast asymmetry are not limited to the breast tissue itself; they can also originate from problems with the pectoralis major muscle, ribs, or other chest tissues, resulting in asymmetrical breast shape.
Q: Are breast enhancement essential oils harmful to the breasts?
A: From a professional perspective, occasional use of breast enhancement oils will not cause direct harm to the body, but long-term, high-dose use can increase estrogen levels in the body, affecting breast health. Medical studies have shown that hormone replacement therapy during menopause in women also increases the risk of breast cancer. Therefore, women should not supplement with estrogen or progesterone indiscriminately. Beauty salons' claims that essential oils have a therapeutic effect on breast hyperplasia are exaggerated.
Q: What are the benefits of breastfeeding ?
A: Continuing to breastfeed can effectively prevent breast cancer and promote physical recovery. The duration of breastfeeding is an important factor affecting a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, even more so than genetic factors.
The incidence of breast cancer rose sharply in developed countries in the last century because women there largely replaced breastfeeding with artificial feeding over the past 100 years, resulting in a significant increase in breast cancer rates. To help women avoid breast cancer, new mothers and expectant mothers should not give up breastfeeding.
Q: Is it true that high stress and staying up late are bad lifestyle habits that increase the risk of breast cancer?
A: Urban young women face intense competitive pressure, leading to chronic stress and emotional instability. These psychological factors, combined with unhealthy lifestyle and work habits, further damage the breasts. While working women experience significant work pressure, it's important to find ways to relieve stress. Laughter and talking to others are effective stress-reduction methods. A healthy family life and positive interpersonal relationships can also significantly reduce stress. Spending time outdoors in the sunshine, connecting with nature and family life, is beneficial for both physical and mental health.
Q: How do I perform a breast self-exam?
A: Women should regularly check for changes in the shape of their breasts. Stand in front of a mirror, hands on hips, and slowly rotate your body to the right and left to check for any dimpling, redness, swelling, or skin damage to the nipples and breasts. Then, place your palms on your hips and press down firmly while rotating your body; this will make the breast contours more defined. If any abnormal changes are found, compare them to the other side to check for symmetry. If asymmetry is found, consult a doctor immediately.
Q: Can early-stage breast cancer be cured?
A: It mainly depends on whether appropriate treatment is administered in a timely manner. Generally, early-stage breast cancer tumors are small and have not spread or metastasized, making surgical resection the most effective treatment. Breast-conserving surgery is an important surgical treatment for early-stage breast cancer. Post-operative routine radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery yields good results, and the 5-year survival rate for breast cancer patients after surgical resection is over 60%. After surgery, it is recommended to undergo a period of post-operative treatment, such as radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine, to prevent recurrence and accelerate the recovery of bodily functions.
