Get to know your breasts

Try to get in the habit of doing a breast self-examination once a month to familiarise yourself with how your breasts normally look and feel.

Examine yourself several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least likely to be swollen and tender. If you’re no longer having periods, choose a day that’s easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.

Don’t panic if you think you feel a lump.
Most of us have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time. Eight out of ten breast lumps that are removed are benign, non-cancerous. It’s not unusual for lumps to appear at certain times of the month, but then disappear, as your body changes with the menstrual cycle. Only changes that last beyond one full cycle, or seem to get bigger or more prominent in some way, need your doctor’s attention.

Neighbourhoods
Breasts tend to have different “neighborhoods.”

The upper, outer area—near your armpit—tends to have the most prominent lumps and bumps. The lower half of your breast can feel like a sandy or pebbly beach. The area under the nipple can feel like a collection of large grains. Another part might feel like a lumpy bowl of oatmeal.

What’s important is that you get to know the look and feel of YOUR breasts’ various neighborhoods. Does something stand out as different from the rest (like a rock on a sandy beach)? Has anything changed? Bring to the attention of your doctor any changes in your breasts that:

* last over a full month’s cycle, OR
* seem to get worse or more obvious over time

Knowing how your breasts usually look and feel may also help you avoid needless biopsies—a procedure in which the doctor takes a small sample of breast tissue and examines it under a microscope.

Step One

Stand in front of the mirror with your arms relaxed. It’s normal for breasts to differ in size and symmetry as long as this has always been the case.

Now stand with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.

Look for dimpling, unusual shape or skin colour, if nipples look different.

Step 2

Raise your arms this time. Keep looking.

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:

* Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
* A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
* Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

Step 3

Now bend forward from the hips and let your breasts hang down.

Look for changes in breast contours, any swelling or flattening, bulges or dimples which are accentuated in this position.

While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4

Liee down with one hand behind your head and towel folded under right shoulder. using the pads of your three middle fingers (not tips) press lightly but firmly in circular movements all over your breast, nipple and armpit.

Start from the rib below your breast to your armpit, up to your collarbone, over your breastbone and back down the rib.

Step 5

Feel for lumps just under the skin. Then push harder against your ribs to search for deeper lumps