Raising awareness is always half the battle when it comes to breast cancer. Since this form of cancer is the most common among women, it is your responsibility to know how to do a breast self-exam, especially when you are over 20 years old. Here is a quick guide on how to perform just that.
First of all, it is best that you gain an idea of what your breasts look and feel like normally so you would know if there are any unusualities the moment you are doing the examination. The best time to do a breast self-exam would be two to three days after your period. At this time, your breasts are least likely to be tender and swollen, thus, preventing false-positive results. However if you do not have a regular period, choose a day in a month, such as the first day, to remind yourself that you need to perform Breast Self-Examination or BSE.
When Standing in Front of the Mirror
Stand in front of the mirror with your upper body unclothed. Put your hands at the side. Look at your breasts carefully and observe for changes in size, shape and contour. Also see if there are breast abnormalities such as dimpling, puckering, changes in texture of your breasts or “pulling-in” of the nipple. Then, gently squeeze your nipples and look for discharges. Perform this exam once again with your hands on the hips, pressing inward so as to tighten your chest muscles, and another exam with your hands above your head.
When Lying in Bed
Place a pillow or a rolled towel under your right shoulder and put your right hand behind your head. With the pads of your fingers, firmly press your right breast with your left hand. Start from the outer most part of your breast then spiral in towards your nipple. Meticulously examine every part of your breast and feel for lumps and bumps. Repeat these steps with the left breast.
When Sitting Down
Performing a breast self-exam when sitting down is relatively easy. Just rest your arms on a firm surface in front of you and examine your armpits using the same circular motion. The armpit area is also considered breast tissue.
When Taking a Bath
Raise your right arm. Use your left hand to examine your right breast. With fingers flat, firmly press every part of your breast, while feeling for breast abnormalities once again. Start at the outermost part of your breast working towards the nipple in a spiral pattern. Make sure to examine every part. Repeat this procedure with the left breast. Self breast exam can be performed easily when in the shower. Some women detect masses when their skin is moist.
What to Do When There’s Something Different
If you notice something unusual such as lumps, thickening and discharges after doing a breast self-exam, see your doctor immediately. Put in mind though that changes such as these don’t necessarily mean you have breast cancer, especially if you are a premenopausal woman. However, you and your doctor still would want to make sure what these breast abnormalities are and whether or not you have cancer, so performing clinical tests for breast cancer may still be essential.