MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylo-coccus aureus) is a staph infection that is not easily treated with antibiotics.  However, it is relatively easy to acquire and spreads under the skin at an alarming rate.  Local emergency rooms are seeing a rise in the number of MRSA cases that they treat.

Last week, the Sun-Sentinel noted that “infections from a relatively mild variety of drug-resistant staph have been on the rise in South Florida in recent months,” seemingly downplaying the phenomenon by calling it a “weak strain,” and reporting that “no one is calling the jump in cases a serious danger.” This could be misleading, as the treatments required to treat the bacteria often involve surgery, intravenous medication, lengthy hospital stays, and sometimes even amputation. Those treatments are no guarantee that the infection will not reoccur.

The LGBT community in South Florida has certainly been affected by the recent spike in MRSA cases. What is not clear at this point is whether or not our community has been affected to a greater degree than others. It is known, however, that persons with HIV, children, and the elderly are at greater risk for opportunistic infections, like staph.

Historically, MRSA was thought to be transmitted primarily in prisons and hospitals, or by sharing intravenous drugs. That is seemingly no longer the case. One person in four is now known to be an asymptomatic carrier of staph bacteria, and one in 50 have a strain that is specifically classified as MRSA.

MRSA can be spread by skin-to-skin contact. Not all patients are sure how they acquired it. Like all bacterial infections, humidity and a general lack of cleanliness may be contributing factors. It is suggested by medical professionals that regular hand-washing and early detection will decrease the likelihood and severity of the disease.  MRSA may initially appear to be something harmless, such as an ingrown hair, cat scratch, or acne. The condition is made worse by attempts to puncture or rupture the site of infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “The biggest risk factor for MRSA infection is open or broken skin (such as a wound or surgical site); however, MRSA infections can occur even on areas of the skin where there is no obvious wound or break in the skin.” Experts say that keeping a clean, well-ventilated home will reduce the chance of infection.

Erin Carr-Jordon, a health activist in Arizona, was recently banned from McDonald’s restaurants in that state after she swab-tested their playground equipment and discovered traces of MRSA. “Contaminated items and surfaces” are also cited by the CDC as sources of MRSA infection.

Cakes, cookies and desserts have been part of the American diet for years and are definitely here to stay. These treats are great tasting and full of quick energy when eaten in small sensible amounts. A well-balanced healthy diet consists of having an occasional treat and not denying those inner desires. Note the word “occasional.” Unfortunately, most Americans tend to consume more than the recommended serving when it comes to these sweet and tasty delicacies, as well as having them a little more often than they should.

There can be many major health repercussions from having one too many of these little sweets. Diabetes usually tops the chart, followed by high cholesterol and heart problems. Next comes obesity – a BIG problem, as well as tooth decay. They don’t call it a “sweet tooth” for nothing. Many cakes, cookies and pastries are very high in calories and low in nutritional values making the body deficient of nutrients when trying to use the energy from these foods for fuel.

Most of the moistness of cakes, cookies and pastries comes from their fat. The trick is to cut down the fat and sugar and still not lose the texture or consistency. There are many ways that you can enhance the flavor and taste of your favorite recipe with a few healthy alternatives just added in, or in place of.

Next time you are in the kitchen, try using applesauce, strained bananas or strained prunes for a healthy substitute for some of the fat in that favorite recipe of yours. The fruit will keep the moisture, as well as contribute added sweetness and flavor to spice things up. Also reducing the amount of sugar added into the ingredients by replacing it with cinnamon or other spices can add new flavor to perk up those taste buds. Lower the gluten content by using a rice crust; it will give your dessert a delicious and extra flaky texture. A low-fat graham cracker crust is another great alternative to the usual butter crust, reducing calories and adding in much more nutrition. Discarding half the yolk and substituting egg whites adds extra protein and reduces the cholesterol in cakes and cookies making them a more nutritious snack. Also substituting condensed skim milk in place of the usual heavy cream in most of your frostings helps reduce calories without losing flavor.

Fruit glazes and fruit sauces make a great topping for the top of those cakes, cookies and pastries too, while reducing the calories and fat content. Oatmeal and dried fruit will up the nutritional content of any cake, cookie or pastry as a replacement for nuts and other high fat or sugar ingredients, so don’t be afraid to throw a handful in the next time you are baking. Fresh berries offer another alternative to dried fruit to drop even more calories and add lots of fresh taste everyone will enjoy. Fat-free cream cheese is another smart and healthy way to knock down the fat content and calories of your favorite cheese cake recipe without losing the texture and consistency.

Sugar substitutes add sweetness and satisfy cravings with far less calories. The main artificial sweeteners are Aspertame and Saccharin that are particularly helpful for those suffering from diabetes who have to limit their sugar intake. Artificial sweeteners can be up to 60 times sweeter than sugar weight for weight, leaving far less calories cup for cup in your favorite new healthy recipe.

Using these tricks of the trade will not only help you slim your waistline, but will also allow you to enjoy those sweet treats with a lot less guilt. As always, don’t be afraid to get creative and experiment with new things while you are cooking, because the next new mouth-watering sensation could be coming right out of your very own healthy kitchen.

I have been working out all my life. In that time, I have read a lot, heard a lot and I’ve seen everything. Everyone has an opinion about how to bulk up, cut up and trim down. Some of this information has proved invaluable; some of it is pure bull. Let’s look at some common myths that just may be holding you back and/or even totally derailing your workouts.

Myth #1: If you want to build mass, cut out the cardio.

Aerobic fitness is achieved through regular cardio-vascular training and it is among the most preventative medicines available. What good is having gorgeous muscles if you drop dead of a stroke or heart attack! While building solid lean muscle is important, cardio vascular fitness is essential. And the best way to “pump up” the lungs and heart is by exercising aerobically. According to the International Sports Sciences Association, three to four 30 –45 minute sessions of cardio per week will definitely help to build cardiovascular fitness. Whether it’s running, swimming, biking, doing the precor or treadmill in the gym, you’ve simply got to
do cardio in order to stay healthy and live longer.

Myth #2: I’m hurting, but if I just keep training, I can work through the pain.

Only a real horse’s ass or the former governor of California still believes the adage, “No pain, no gain.” This long-running myth can potentially have dangerous effects on your body. There is a difference between pain, and the soreness and discomfort you feel after a really “kick-ass” workout. The latter is called ‘delayed onset of muscle soreness’ and it is a natural reaction to a really tough workout. Stretching, rest, massage and contrasting hot and cold showers can help ease this discomfort. Any indications of real pain (joint sprains and swelling, chest pains and difficulty breathing, etc.) should signal you to see a doctor. Working out with such serious symptoms could cause major damage to your body. See a physician as soon as possible.

Myth #3: I can only get “big” if I take the latest, most expensive supplements and steroids.

Just because a prominent bodybuilder is pitching a particular supplement or pro-hormone in one of the muscle rags does not mean that you need to buy it  or use it. You can achieve greatness in “muscle-dom” by working hard in the gym, eating healthy and clean, and getting enough quality rest between workouts. Always consult a doctor before taking any supplement and, by all means (especially for guys over 40), have your testosterone levels checked.

Myths #4: Drinking enough water during exercise is not important; in fact it can cause cramps.

Drinking enough water during workouts is vital. Most of us never get enough water. You need water throughout the day, especially before, during and after  a workout or other physical activity. Lack of water can lead to headaches, fatigue, body aches – and even death!  The International Sports Sciences Association recommends 8-12 glasses of water per day. On strenuous workout days, drink 16 ounces of water for every pound lost during exercise.

If you’ve got questions about your fitness routine, please send an email to  TrainerTomB@aol.com today!

Tom Bonanti, is a certified personal trainer and owner of Pump’n Inc gym at 1271 NE 9th Ave., Ft. Lauderdale, FL, Email: TrainerTomB@aol.com  Facebook: TrainerTomB.  www.pumpnincgym.com

The old canard about the size relation of one’s hands and feet to the length one’s penis has long been dispelled by competent experts. But researchers in South Korea say there may be a direct relationship between finger length and the longitude of one’s manhood.

According to researchers at Gachon University in Incheon, the inverse ratio of a man’s index finger to that of his ring finger is a dependable way to determine penile span.

Reporting last week in the Asian Journal of Andrology, Dr. Tae Beom Kim, a urologist, and colleagues studied 144 men age 20 and over. (The men were undergoing urological surgery for conditions having nothing to do with penis length.)

The subjects’ right index and ring fingers were measured for length prior to surgery. The subjects’ penis length was measured immediately after the subject was given anesthesia; length was measured while the penis was flaccid and after it had been stretched to its maximum protractedness. (According to the researchers, the stretched length of one’s member is believed to correlate to its erect length.)

The researchers reported that, generally, the lower the ratio of the measure of both fingers, the longer was the penis’ stretched length.

If you’re tickled by the Korean “finger formula,” you’re not alone: a number of studies have concluded that the ratio of a man’s finger lengths is a function of exposure to the sex hormones estrogen and testosterone, pre-birth. Research suggests that the portion of one’s male anatomy could likewise be so determined.

More finger food for thought: Research from the University of Vienna found that males with the lower index-to-ring-finger ratio have more symmetrical faces and are more attractive to females; something called the “sexy ratio.” In 2010, British researchers from Warwick University and the Institute of Cancer Research found that a man’s risk for prostate cancer is also related to his ratio between the two digits: men with index fingers longer than their ring fingers were one-third less likely to develop prostate cancer. 

Photo: The new Korean study shows that John Manning – the ‘finger professor’ – was right… In his second book titled “The Finger Book”, Manning had pointed out that the length of the index finger correlates with the length, glans & volume of the penis.

By Tom Bonati

“Summertime and the livin’ is easy…” so said Gershwin in that famous ballad, but nowhere is the season hotter and more eventful than in tropical South Florida. Remember this summer to relax, take some time for yourself, pack your sunscreen and a good book and  ponder these fitness tidbits as you crank up your workouts. Here are my top 20 summer fitness facts, simple, easy and to the point!

1. A 10-15 minute warm-up consisting of light cardio and stretching before working out warms up your muscles and joints and prevents injuries.
2. A cocktail or glass of wine are a delight, but overdoing it can pack on the pounds, deplete your energy and prove fatal to your workouts.
3. Modalities like hydro-therapy, massage and acupuncture, etc., can aid your fitness lifestyle by relieving pain, speeding recovery and adding to your overall well-being.
4. A professional massage can relax sore tight muscles, lower blood pressure, increase circulation and moisturize your skin.
5. Summer colds are a bitch. Never work out with a fever – it’s counter-productive – stay home and get well.
6. Music can rev you up and motivate your workouts – if your gym is playing tired tunes, then bring your own.
7. Carry a clean towel with you to the gym and a few antibacterial wipes so that you can keep equipment clean for yourself and others.
8. Stay hydrated throughout the day and during your workouts. Chug water regularly and don’t wait until you are thirsty.
9. Beginning at age 25, most people begin to lose about a half a pound of muscle per year. Regular and progressive weight training helps maintain and build lean muscle.
10. Consistency and regularity at the gym add up to success at achieving your goals.
11. To jump start your fat-burning, try 20 minutes of cardio (i.e., treadmill, elliptical) on an empty stomach first thing in the morning. But make sure to eat breakfast soon after and before your major workout.
12. Before trying any new supplement, make sure you research it and check with your physician before trying it.
13. Eat whole grains, fresh fruits and yogurt for a substantial breakfast that will energize you and keep you going throughout the day.
14. A workout partner can be a real asset provided you are both on the same page as far as fitness goals are concerned.
15. Good nutrition, weight training and cardio are the three elements of any sound program.
16. Do some core training at work by replacing your regular office chair with an exercise ball as you attend to the days chores.
17. Steer clear of 2 or 3 filling meals and eat 5 or 6 smaller meals more frequently throughout the day to stay lean and energized. Never eat before going to bed and make sure to eat a healthy breakfast
18. The warmer weather is better for joints and muscles while exercising – just don’t overdo it. Use sunscreen and chug water.
19. Omega-3 fatty acids found in cold water fish and almonds are heart healthy good fats.
20. Enjoy your summer and stay fit and happy! Use down time to get an extra pump in the gym!

Tom Bonanti, is a certified personal trainer and owner of Pump’n Inc gym at  1271 NE 9th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33304, Facebook: TrainerTomB. www.pumpnincgym.com

By BOB KECSKEMETY

“It was a great chance to give back to the community,” said Reece Darham owner of Island City Health and Fitness, home of the 2011 Brian Neal Fitness Challenge in which Darham donates the use of the gym. “When I fully understood the concept of it, I thought it was an excellent idea. And the plan to have a non-profit for people in need and who want to get fit and healthy made a lot of sense to me. I thought it was a great idea, a great concept.” Darham has owned Island City Health and Fitness since October 2008.

The Brian Neal Fitness Challenge is a boot camp style workout session limited to 50 participants in which there are three 1- hour workout sessions a week for 12 weeks. There is no cost to join the Challenge. Working along side Neal is personal trainer Melissa Binkley who is also Director of Fitness at Island City Health and Fitness where she works continuously with the fitness staff and Certified Personal Trainers.

“I think it’s necessary, even for people that don’t have money or can’t necessarily afford a trainer, still have access to fitness because fitness is for everybody,” said Binkley.

“She is wonderful, I absolutely adore Melissa,” says Darham. “She has such a burst of energy. She’s an absolutely pleasure and a true professional and incredibly knowledgeable and I’m so glad she’s part of the team.” Binkley is a dedicated fitness professional with a degree from Ohio State University and has several national certifications. She has been inspiring healthy living and fitness for most of her life. She is a National NPC Figure Competitor and fitness model and has traveled the country competing and being an ambassador for fitness. Binkley is also an avid athlete and loves all sports and is featured on RxMuscle.com, MuscularDevelopment.com and BodTv.

Binkley has worked with clients ranging in age from 8 to 80, planning individualized programs for each of her clients based on their current level of fitness, their health needs and goals. She believes children are the next step to the fitness revolution and has worked with organizations such as HeroUSA.org to establish fitness programs for children. She is also SilverFit-certified and has taught classes to senior citizens.

“[Brian Neal] came to Reese and talked to him about using the facilities as part of the program. Reese introduced me to him and they told me about how it was going to be non-profit and how they wanted to help people and were going to make it a free. I’ve always done volunteer work, helping vets and older people — anything that is fitness-related that helped people and it was something that was close to my heart. I thought it was a wonderful concept so I was really happy to help with it and do anything I could to help him and give him some of my expertise. After meeting the people the very first time I decided it was an amazing project and I’m really happy to be working with them.

“I think Brian is a big teddy bear,” said Binkley. “He is really a nice guy he’s a lot of fun and he knows what he’s talking about and he’s really driven. I think he’s got a great idea and it will be a big help to our community.”

Binkley went on to say that obesity in America is at crisis levels and people need access to health information. She said that for the general population, the Challenge is such a necessity to get the community into a healthy lifestyle and it’s going to make a difference for generations to come. She said that America has the highest obesity rates in the world and that by allowing people to see a healthy way to live and do things in a different way, it’s going to be a force that’s going to spread.

Binkley herself practices a holistic lifestyle and believes nutrition is a vital part of a healthy life. She is currently working towards expanding her field in holistic nutrition and health. Binkley also enjoys being part of the Brian Neal Fitness Challenge. “The [participants] are amazing and they all have wonderful stories. We have a cancer survivor; we have some that have weighed over 300 pounds who have lost weight. They all have a good fire to them and are all really excited. It’s really nice to work with people that really want to be here because, a lot of time, you get people that don’t always really enjoy what they are doing or they really don’t want to learn to work for change. And everybody in this program is really on fire about what they are doing and they have a passion about it and that’s really exciting.”

Bob Kecskemety is the News Editor of the Florida Agenda. Bob can be readed at editor@FloridaAgenda.com

By BOB KECSKEMETY

At 56, Ed Cook enjoys walking around in a tank top and being stopped by younger guys who want to tell him how incredible he looks. And when they ask him how old he is, Cook further enjoys the looks on their faces. Cook, however, wasn’t always so fortunate.

From the age of 37, Cook admits he had let himself go. He was gaining weight and gave up on his appearance. He says he felt that life became too overwhelming and he gave up, claiming there wasn’t enough time. At the age of 48, he went to a doctor who told him that if he continued on this course he would end up with severe medical problems, including diabetes, heart attack and an early death.

“I knew,” said Cook, “that when I walked out that door that my life would never be the same.” His life changes included joining a gym and a low carb diet. “I just trained like hell” said Cook, who dropped 52 pounds in seven months.

While working out one day, several body builders approached Cook and told him that he should start competing. Originally, Cook was not too keen on the idea, but then got curious and went on the Internet and started checking out some of the over 50 competitions and thought he could probably do it.

Cook entered his first competition and, from that moment on, he’s been hooked. He says he loves the body building sport and loves what the sport has done for him. He also encourages others to get involved.

“It’s a statistical fact that 97 percent of people fail in their diet and fitness goals in their first year,” said Cook. “Then I asked myself why I succeeded and realized that, even though I had let my physical body go, I had been working through some very tough issues that had been bothering me throughout my life.” One of those issues was dealing with his own sexuality.

He says that in order to succeed, a person must first figure out what their goals are and what motivates them to become more fit and healthy. Without goals, you’re not going to accomplish anything. He says that many fail because of an inner struggle and that it’s just not enough not being satisfied with the way you look or feel. “It’s just like the guy who says that if he could buy a Porsche, he would be happy. But six months later, he realizes that that the Porsche is just basic transportation and not that big of a deal,” Cook said.

“You have to remember that the body is just a material thing, but it’s connected to a wonderful spirit inside. If the spirit is sick and unhappy and unhealthy, there is no way the outer-self can heal itself and become whole. To fix the body, you must mend the mind, then everything else will fall into place.”

Cook said that in order to succeed, you have to set goals that are practical and realistic. You have to put those goals in writing and create a specified work out time that doesn’t interfere with family or work.

Five years ago he found out about a social network site for body builders called Body Space and is now one of the top members. He says that he has a lot of friends and that the many messages he receives usually end up in one of two categories: messages from military personnel and messages from people who tell him what an inspiration his Body Space profile has become for them.

“This body is great and the fame is fun, and it’s good to have people pat you on the back and tell you how great you are,” says Cook. “But what it’s really about is giving back to others — which is what life is really about.”

Thanks to improvements in treatment and early detection, millions of women are surviving breast cancer today. This information briefly represents the views of the doctors and nurses serving on the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Information Database Editorial Board. These views are based on their interpretation of studies published in medical journals, as well as their own professional experience. Your doctor may have reasons for suggesting a treatment plan different from these general treatment options. Don’t hesitate to ask him or her questions about your treatment options.

Treatments can be classified into broad groups, based on how they work and when they are used. Local therapy is intended to treat a tumor at the site without affecting the rest of the body. Surgery and radiation therapy are examples of local therapies. Systemic therapy refers to drugs which can be given by mouth or directly into the bloodstream to reach cancer cells anywhere in the body. Chemotherapy, hormone therapy, and targeted therapy are systemic therapies. Patients who have no detectable cancer after surgery are often given adjuvant (additional) systemic therapy. Doctors believe that in some cases cancer cells may break away from the primary breast tumor and begin to spread through the body by way of the bloodstream even in the early stages of the disease.

Surgery

Most women with breast cancer have some type of surgery. Surgery is often needed to remove a breast tumor. Options for this include breast-conserving surgery and mastectomy. Breast reconstruction can be done at the same time as the mastectomy or done later on.

Breast-conserving surgery is sometimes called partial mastectomy. It only removes a part of the affected breast, but how much is removed depends on the size and location of the tumor and other factors. Lumpectomy removes only the breast lump and a surrounding margin of normal tissue. Radiation therapy is usually given after a lumpectomy. For a quadrantectomy, one-quarter of the breast is removed. Radiation therapy is usually given after surgery.

Mastectomy is surgery to remove the entire breast. All of the breast tissue is removed, sometimes along with other nearby tissues. In a Simple mastectomy, the surgeon removes the entire breast, including the nipple, but does not remove underarm lymph nodes or muscle tissue from beneath the breast. Sometimes this is done for both breasts (a double mastectomy), especially when it is done as preventive surgery in women at very high risk for breast cancer. For some women considering immediate reconstruction, a skin-sparing mastectomy can be done. In this procedure, most of the skin over the breast (other than the nipple and areola) is left intact. This can work as well as a simple mastectomy. In Radical mastectomy, the surgeon removes the entire breast, axillary lymph nodes and the pectoral muscles under the breast. This surgery was once very common, but it was found that a modified radical mastectomy was just as effective.

 For many, the thought of surgery can be frightening. But with a better understanding of what to expect before, during, and after the operation, many fears can be relieved. The common biopsy procedures let you find out if you have breast cancer within a few days of your biopsy, but the extent of the breast cancer will not be known until after imaging tests and the surgery for local treatment are done. Usually, you meet with your surgeon a few days before the operation to discuss the procedure. This is a good time to ask specific questions about the surgery and review potential risks. Be sure you understand what the extent of the surgery is likely to be and what you should expect afterward. If you are thinking about breast reconstruction, ask about this as well.

Radiation Therapy

Radiation therapy is treatment with high-energy rays or particles that destroy cancer cells. This treatment may be used to kill any cancer cells that remain in the breast, chest wall, or underarm area after breast-conserving surgery. Radiation may also be needed after mastectomy in patients with either a cancer larger than 5 cm in size, or when cancer is found in the lymph nodes.

External beam radiation is the most common type of radiation therapy for women with breast cancer. The radiation is focused from a machine outside the body on the area affected by the cancer.

Brachytherapy, also known as internal radiation, is another way to deliver radiation therapy. Instead of aiming radiation beams from outside the body, radioactive seeds or pellets are placed directly into the breast tissue next to the cancer. It is often used as a way to add an extra boost of radiation to the tumor site (along with external radiation to the whole breast), although it may also be used by itself.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is treatment with cancer- killing drugs that may be given intravenously or by mouth. The drugs travel through the bloodstream to reach cancer cells in most parts of the body. Chemo is given in cycles, with each period of treatment followed by a recovery period. Treatment usually lasts for several months.

– Source: American Cancer Societyd in the Series Recognizing Breast Cancer Awareness Month

The Earlier the Better

Most doctors feel that early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year, and that many more lives could be saved if even more women and their health care providers took advantage of these tests. Following the American Cancer Society’s guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.

Risk Factors

Having a risk factor, or even several, does not mean that you will get the disease. Most women who have one or more breast cancer risk factors never develop the disease, while many women with breast cancer have no apparent risk factors (other than being a woman and growing older). Even when a woman with risk factors develops breast cancer, it is hard to know just how much these factors may have contributed to her cancer.

Risk factors you cannot change: Simply being a woman is the main risk factor for developing breast cancer. Your risk of developing breast cancer increases as you get older. About 5% – 10% of breast cancer cases are thought to be hereditary. Women whose close blood relatives have had breast cancer have a higher risk. A woman with cancer in one breast has a 3 to 4 fold increased risk of developing a new cancer. Denser breast tissue which has more glandular tissue and less fatty tissue. Women diagnosed with certain benign breast conditions may have an increased risk. Women who have had more menstrual cycles because they started menstruating at an early age and/or went through menopause at a later age have a slightly higher risk of breast cancer. Women, who as children or young adults, had radiation therapy to the chest area as treatment for another cancer. Women who have been exposed to Diethylstilbestrol have a slightly increased risk.

Lifestyle-related factors: Women who have not had children or who had their first child after age 30. Women using oral contraceptives. Using estrogen before menopause. Consumption of alcohol is clearly linked to an increased risk as does being overweight or obese.

Detection Mammogram:

The American Cancer Society recommends women age 40 and older should have a mammogram every year and should continue to do so for as long as they are in good health. Recent evidence has confirmed that mammograms offer substantial benefit for women in their 40s. Women can feel confident about the benefits associated with regular mammograms for finding cancer early. However, mammograms also have limitations. A mammogram can miss some cancers, and it may lead to follow up of findings that are not cancer.

Clinical breast exam:

Women in their 20s and 30s should have a clinical breast exam (CBE) as part of a regular health exam by a health professional preferably every 3 years. Starting at age 40, women should have a CBE by a health professional every year. For this exam, you undress from the waist up. The health professional will first look at the breasts for abnormalities in size or shape, or changes in the skin of the breasts or nipple. Then, using the pads of the fingers, the examiner will gently palpate the breasts. The CBE is a good time for women who don’t know how to examine their breasts to learn the right way to do it from their health care professionals and should ask their doctor or nurse to teach them and watch the technique.

Breast awareness and self-exam:

Beginning in their 20s, women should be told about the benefits and limitations of breast self-exam (BSE). Women should be aware of how their breasts normally look and feel and report any new breast changes to a health professional as soon as they are found. Finding a breast change does not necessarily mean there is a cancer. A woman can notice changes by knowing how her breasts normally look and feel and feeling her breasts for changes (breast awareness), or by choosing to use a step-by-step approach and using a specific schedule to examine her breasts.

Signs and symptoms of breast cancer:

Although widespread use of screening mammograms has increased the number of breast cancers found before they cause any symptoms, some breast cancers are not found by mammograms, either because the test was not done or because even under ideal conditions mammograms do not find every breast cancer. The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A mass that is painless, hard, and has irregular edges is more likely to be cancerous, but breast cancers can be tender, soft, or rounded. For this reason, it is important that any new mass, lump, or breast change is checked by a health care professional with experience in diagnosing breast diseases.

Other possible signs of breast cancer include: Swelling of all or part of a breast (even if no distinct lump is felt), skin irritation or dimpling, breast or nipple pain, nipple retraction, redness, scaliness, or thickening of the nipple or breast skin or a nipple discharge other than breast milk. Sometimes a breast cancer can spread to underarm lymph nodes and cause a lump or swelling there, even before the original tumor in the breast tissue is large enough to be felt. Swollen lymph nodes should also be reported to your doctor.

(Source: American Cancer Society)