How
to Peform a Breast Self-Examination
Breast
self-examination is one of the best tools available for discovering breast
cancer in the early, most treatable stages. Make a monthly self-exam part
of your regular routine.
Difficulty
Level: easy Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's
How:
- Perform
the self-exam on the same day each month. Pre-menopause: a week after
menstruation. Post-menopause: any date.
- Stand
in front of the mirror with both arms by your side and look closely
at both of your breasts.
- Look
for changes in size, color or texture. (These may be signs of Inflammatory
Breast Cancer).
- Lying
on the bed, put a towel or small pillow under your right shoulder and
put your right hand behind your head.
- With the
middle three fingers of your left hand examine your right breast
- Start
at the nipple and go in circles around your breast until the ENTIRE
surface is examined.
- Pay attention
to any changes ( lumps, bumpy texture, tenderness ) from last month's
self-exam.
- After
you examine your breast, move to your underarm (lymph node area) and
look for changes there.
- Gently
press the nipple and check for discharge and changes in the nipple itself.
- Follow
the same procedure with the left breast.
- In the
shower, examine your right breast and underarm area exactly the way
you did on the bed (except for the pillow, of course).
- Follow
the same procedure on your left side.
Tips:
- Examine
your entire breast and under arm area. If you do notice any changes
or lumps, don't panic. Most lumps are benign fibroadenomas or cysts.
- If you
examine your breasts every month you become familiar with the way they
feel and look. That makes it easier to notice any changes.
- Make sure
to tell your doctor if you notice any changes in your breasts. Early
treatment is the best way to survive cancer!
Also see -> What's
this about mammograms?
Diagnostic
Tools |
Those
Old "They Found a Lump" Blues
Elsewhere
on the Web:
How
to Do Breast Self-Exams
