Breast Self-Exam

Cancer develops in the tissues of breasts, affecting both men and women due to different reasons like family history or changes in genes and progress through stages. Symptoms would be the presence of a lump in the breast and change in the appearance of the breast. Treatment is primarily based on the type and stage of cancer.

Detecting Breast Cancer Earlier

When breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is 99%. Early detection includes doing monthly breast self-exams, and scheduling regular clinical breast exams and mammograms.Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self-exams at least once a month.

“Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”

Once A Month “Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.” While mammograms can help you to detect cancer before you can feel a lump, breast self-exams help you to be familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can alert your healthcare professional if there are any changes.

How Should A Breast Self-Exam Be Performed?

1) In the Shower With the pads/flats of your 3 middle fingers, check the entire breast and armpit area pressing down with light, medium, and firm pressure. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, hardened knot, or any other breast changes. With the pads/flats of your 3 middle fingers, check the entire breast and armpit area pressing down with light, medium, and firm pressure. Check both breasts each month feeling for any lump, thickening, hardened knot, or any other breast changes. Visually inspect your breasts with your arms at your sides. Next, raise your arms high overhead. Look for any changes in the contour, any swelling, or dimpling of the skin, or changes in the nipples. Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts do, so look for any dimpling, puckering, or changes, particularly on one side.

2) Lying Down When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently covering the entire breast area and armpit. Use light, medium, and firm pressure. Squeeze the nipple; check for discharge and lumps. Repeat these steps for your left breast.

Breast cancer can’t usually be prevented, but you can take three important steps to help detect it earlier. The free resource, 3 Steps to Early Detection, can increase your chance of finding breast cancer before it spreads.

5 step method for self-examination of breast cancer

Step 1. Observe your breasts

Start by looking in the mirror at your breasts with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Here are some things to look for:

• Breasts of the same size, shape, and colour as before
• Evenly formed breasts with no obvious deformation or swelling

Step 2. Raise your arms and look for changes

Raise your arms now and look for the same changes as mentioned above.

Step 3. Look out for any leaking fluid

Look in the mirror for any evidence of fluid leaking out of one or both nipples while you're there (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4. Feel your breasts while laying down

Then, while lying down, feel your breasts with your right hand on your left breast and your left hand on your right breast. Keep your fingers flat and together while applying a firm, smooth touch to the first few finger pads of your hand. Make a quarter-sized circular motion with your hands. Feel all of the tissue in your breasts, from the front to the back: light pressure for the skin and tissue just beneath; medium pressure for the tissue in the middle of your breasts; hard pressure for the deep tissue in the rear. You should be able to feel down to your ribs once you've reached the deep tissue.

Step 5. Feel your breasts while standing

Finally, while standing or sitting, feel your breasts. Many women like to conduct this step in the shower since it is easier to feel their breasts when their skin is moist and slippery. Using the same hand movements as in step 4, cover your entire breast. Note-In case your breasts have a lumpy or odd shape. It is critical to get medical advice as soon as possible.