What do you need to know about home breast exams?
Early detection of cancer leads to better outcomes – especially in breast cancer. You can check your breasts for lumps or abnormalities at home and call your doctor's attention to any concerns you may have, and he or she can do further testing if necessary. But do you know how or how often to perform a breast exam at home? Do you know what you are looking for? Here's what you need to know about home breast exams.
How to do a breast exam at home?
Here are five steps you can take to perform your monthly self-breast exam at home.
1. Look at yourself in the mirror. Keep your shoulders straight and hands on your hips. Make sure your breasts are of regular size and shape with no visible blemishes or swelling. You should report these changes to your doctor if you notice any discoloration or prickling of the skin, a change in nipple position or inversion, or a rash on the skin of your breasts.
2. Now raise your arms above your head and look at your breasts in the mirror. See the same things as in #1.
3. Make sure no fluid is leaking from your nipples (unless you are breastfeeding of course). Otherwise any liquid — whether it's milky, clear, yellow, blood, or watery — is something you should take note of.
4. Now lie down and start feeling your breasts. Use your right hand to feel your left breast and your left hand to feel your right breast. Keeping the fingers flat and together, move the first few pads of your fingers over your breast in a soft firm fashion. Go in a circular motion in a quarter. Get the entire breast from top to bottom and side to side. Move from your collarbone to your stomach and your armpits to your cleavage.
Go in the pattern starting from your nipple and make bigger and bigger circles. A vertical method can be used in rows such as mowing the lawn or applying varying amounts of pressure. Light pressure on the skin and tissue beneath the breast, medium pressure on the tissue in the center of the breast, and firm pressure on the deep tissue at the back of the breast.
5. Now stand or sit and feel your breasts. A good place to do this is in the shower. Use the same technique as in step 4; Don't forget to cover your entire breast using the same motions. Do you feel any abnormalities or lumps in the new breast tissue?
You should do these steps once a month every month. It is best to do this after a week of menstruation. This way your breasts will be less tender and swollen.
Remember, your breasts are always changing in small ways, but sudden, drastic changes should alert you so you can contact your doctor. Don't wait, tell yourself it's nothing. Err on the side of caution and contact your doctor so they can determine what's going on.
Remember, this is your body and you know it best. If you notice any new bumps or lumps, be sure to ask your doctor about your concerns. Early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. So it's important to know what you're looking for.
Check your breasts now!
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