Now that the myth that "mammographic screening prevents breast cancer deaths" has been debunked, what are our choices for breast cancer screening? 

         If you didn't see it, the results of the Canadian National Breast Cancer Screening Study were published in the British Medical Journal on Feb 10, 2014. This important study of almost 90,000 women ages 40-59 from across Canada revealed that the number of women who died from breast cancer was the same whether women received screening mammograms annually for 5 years or had annual physical breast exams alone. During the five-year screening period, 666 invasive breast cancers were diagnosed in the women who were screened using mammography, while 524 were found in those receiving physical breast exams. Both groups received the usual medical treatment for breast cancer. Out of all of these women, 180 in the screening mammogram group and 171 of the women in the physical exam group died of breast cancer during the 25 year follow-up period. The conclusion - early detection through mammography did not reduce deaths due to breast cancer. So what are we to do? Follow the guidelines in the Healthy Breast Program to stay well and use the recommendations below to monitor breast health.

Dr. Kaur's Guidelines for Screening

1. Women over 20 years of age should practice monthly breast self-exams

2. All women over 20 years of age and especially women with a family history of breast cancer should have an annual clinical breast exam

3. If you are over 20 and under 50, have an annual screening thermogram. Use mammogram, ultrasound, MRI and/or biopsy to explore any irregular thermogram results

4.  If you: a) have a strong family history of breast cancer; b) have been on the birth control pill or hormone replacement therapy for over 5 years; c) or have other increased risk factors - have an annual thermogram, ultrasound, MRI and clinical breast exam. Use mammography when necessary to confirm a diagnosis or if there is a lump.

5. If you are over 50, have an annual thermogram, clinical breast exam and use mammography, ultrasound, MRI and biopsy as needed if you discover a lump

Click here for more guidelines for breast cancer screening

Estimated time:                                                                                       5-10 minutes

What you will need:                                                                          Olive, pomegranate or healthy breast oil                                                  A small towel to wipe excess oil

How to do it:                                                                           

• Massage your upper shoulders and neck to relax the muscles of your shoulders.                                                                       
• With fingers together and a flat palm, move the skin of your neck back and down towards your collarbone. (5x)                
• Crossing your arms, gently press into the space behind your collarbones with your index and middle fingers and release. (5x)
• *repeat up to 5 times

The neck has a very high concentration of lymph nodes. These techniques create negative pressure in the vessels, increasing the flow of your lymphatic system.  

• With fingers together and a flat palm, gently pump your armpit by pressing into the tissue and releasing. (5 pumps repeat 3x on each side) 
• Using the flat surface of 4 fingers, softly make small 3 semi-circles in an upward direction on the side of your ribs and repeat moving upwards from the base of the breast to the armpit.(1-3 x)
• Warm a small amount of oil in the palm of your hands. Gently massage from your breastbone moving towards the nipple with flat fingers. For women with larger breasts, I recommend supporting the outer part of your breast with the opposite hand.
• Gently massage from underneath your breast towards the nipple with long strokes or semicircles.                                     
• Massage with light pressure from the side of your breasts towards your armpit.                                                            
• Gently pull the breast away from the chest wall while cupping it in your hand. Move the breast up and down and from side to side to release any restrictions in the tissue. This allows lymphatic fluid to drain.

Self-breast massage can soften scar tissue and improve local drainage of the lymphatic system. My clients have reported a reduction in pain, a decrease in fear, an improved sense of connection with their bodies and an increase of their general sense of wellbeing when they receive breast massage on a regular basis. 

Practice breast self-massage with us using this video as a guide:

Breast Self-Massage with Julie & Whitnee