How to do a Breast Self Exam

So, you have decided to do a regular self examination of the breast but are not sure how to get started? Here's a simple way to do it. Don't be overwhelmed by the pictures. Read through. It's really simple to do.

Like I mentioned in a previous post, there is no fixed or best method of doing a breast self exam. The only thing you must remember is to examine all areas of your body that are likely to contain breast tissue. And examine this area very carefully and thoroughly. Remember missing out a small change for a long time can be really bad.

Area to examine when doing a breast examination

So which area should you examine? I repeat - examine the whole of your chest (the front and the sides as well) and the armpit. I just love this picture. It shows the entire area you must examine.

From the collar bone to the bra line and from the middle of the chest to the sides, including the armpit...that's the area you need to examine.

Examining the breast is not rocket science. It is as simple as examining a pimple on your face. What do you do? You look at it in the mirror and then feel it with your hand. That's exactly what you do with your breasts.

Looking for changes:

In a well-lit room, stand in front of the mirror with your hands by your side. Look at the front of your chest. Compare what you see on either side. Then turn to the left and then to the right. Examine the sides.

Once you are convinced there is no new change, try out these positions. In each position, remember to check not just the front but also the sides. 

This is all you need to know about looking for changes. Simple, isn't it? The next is feeling for changes in your breasts.

Feeling for changes:

There are several different methods to feel for changes in your breasts and you may try out all or any of them. Here's one method that I believe covers the entire area and thickness of the breast. If you follow this single method, you should be able to detect changes in any area of your breast.

Lie down on a bed with a pillow/folded towel under the left shoulder if you wish to examine the left breast first. Keep your left hand folded at a right angle as in the picture here.

In this position, the entire breast spreads out flat and is of almost the same thickness throughout making it easier to examine.

Feel your left breast using the flat or pulp of the three middle fingers of your right hand. At each place where you put your fingers, make three coin-sized circles with your fingers.

Why three circles? Well, in order to apply three different pressures while feeling for lumps.

One pressure should be light enough to move the skin without moving the tissue underneath. Then apply a medium pressure so you can reach midway into the tissue. And then apply a deep pressure so that you can reach your ribs. These three different pressures allow you to reach different thicknesses of your breast tissue. See the adjoining pressure to know what I mean.

At each place, use these three different pressures in circles to check for changes. Without lifting your fingers, slide them and check another area of the breast. If you lift your fingers, you are likely to miss out some areas of the breast.

How do you slide the fingers? In which pattern? I follow a simple stripe pattern that covers the entire area of the breast.

Start from the armpit. Keep sliding down till your bra line. Then move a little medially (towards the middle of the chest). Keep sliding up till you reach the collar bone. Move medially again and come down to the bra line...Keep repeating till you reach the middle of the chest.

After you have done this, don't forget to let your arm loose and check in the armpit for lumps.

Then check your nipple for changes or any abnormal discharge. And before you know it, you have thoroughly checked for changes in one breast. Repeat all the steps in the other breast.

With some practice, you should be able to check your breasts in less than 5 minutes. And you need to check for changes only once in a month. So that's not much, is it?

Know your breasts well so that you can detect any change at the earliest. If you detect any abnormality, do not panic. Most lumps or changes in the breasts are not cancer. But they do need attention and treatment. So see a doctor in time.