A regular monthly breast self-exam is one way you can protect yourself against cancer. The best time of the month to do your self-exam is seven to ten days after the start of your menstrual cycle or for post-menopausal women, the same day each month. Regular self breast exams will help you recognize abnormal changes in your breast.
Early warning signs include:
- A lump or thickening in the breast or under the arm
- Discharge from the nipple
- A change in breast size or shape
- A change in the color or feel or the skin or nipple, such as dimpling, puckering or scaliness. See your doctor immediately if you develop any of these signs.
1. In the shower:
Examine your breasts during the bath or shower as hands glide more easily over wet skin. Start by raising your right arm behind your head. With the fingers of your left hand held flat together, move gently over every part of your right breast. Check for any lumps, hard knot, or thickening. Repeat, raising your left arm and checking your left breast with your right hand.
2. In front of a mirror:
Become familiar with the way your breasts
look so you'll notice if there is any
change in their appearance. Inspect your breasts with arms down at
your sides and next with your arms high
overhead. Look for any changes in your
breast such as lumps, thickening, dimples or skin changes. Then, rest
palms on hips and press down to
flex your chest muscles. Doing this can
help make changes more prominent. Gently squeeze each nipple to check
for discharge.
3. 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 the breast
tissue more evenly over the
chest. With the fingers of your left
hand held flat, press gently in small circular motions over every part
of your right breast. Repeat
with your left breast.
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