Breast Exams

Last Updated on Monday, 28 December 2009 04:35 Monday, 28 December 2009 03:41

SELF-EXAMINATION OF BREASTS

Examine your breasts regularly at the same time each month, a few days after your period. If you are pregnant or if you have passed "the change of life". examine your breasts at a set time such as the first or last day of the month.

In the Shower

This is an excellent time to examine the breasts as the fingers can glide easily over wet skin. Use the right hand to examine the left breast, left hand for the right breast, always using the flat area of the fingers pressed together , not the fingertips.

Place your hand behind your head and with the other hand move gently over every part of each breast, including the armpit, in a circular motion increasingly inward towards the nipple. Check for any lump, hard knot or thickening of the skin.

In Front of the Mirror

Inspect your breasts wit arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Then, press the palms of your hands together below your chin and flex the chest muscles. Look for any changes in the shape of each breast, a swelling, dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipple.

Then rest palms on hips and press down firmly to flex chest muscles. Finally, bend forward to examine the way your breasts hang. Left and right breasts will not exactly match - few women's breasts do.

Regular inspection shows what is normal for you and will give you confidence in your examination.

Lying Down

To examine your right breast put a pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Place your right hand behind your head - this distributes breast tissue more evenly on the chest. With left hand, fingers flat, press gently at 1/2" to 1 inch intervals, starting at the uppermost top of your right breast, move into the collarbone and armpit then gradually around in a circle. A ridge of firm tissue in the lower curve of each breast is normal. Then move in an inch and repeat the circling until you have examined every part of your breast.

Notice how your breast structure feels. With repeated practice, you will more easily recognize any change that may occur.

Finally, gently squeeze the nipple, checking for any discharge, clear or bloody.
Now, slowly repeat the procedure on the left breast with the pillow under your left shoulder and left hand behind your head.

If you find any of the following, go to your doctor immediately:

A lump or swelling in the breast

Pain in the breast, not confined to the time just before a period

Any discharge from the nipple, or skin trouble around the nipple, or a "pulling in" of the nipple

An alteration in the appearance of the breast, e.g. dimpling or puckering of the skin

A change in shape or size of one breast, compared with the other breast, which has occurred during the past month.

Why you should examine your breasts

Most breast cancers are first discovered by women themselves.

Since breast cancers found early and treated promptly have excellent chances for cure, learning how to examine your breasts properly can save your life.

Should you find a lump or any of the warning signs, don't be frightened, see your doctor immediately.

Although most breast lumps are not cancer, ONLY A DOCTOR CAN TELL FOR SURE.

High Risk

Previous breast cancer

Breast cancer in mother, sister or daughter

First pregnancy after age 30

No children

Early puberty or late menopause