Health Resources

Why should I do a breast self-exam?

Regular breast self-exam can help you know how your breasts normally look and feel, so you can notice any changes. For that reason, some experts recommend that women over age 20 perform a monthly breast self-exam to look for new lumps and other changes. If you find a change, you should see your health care provider. Most breast changes or lumps are not cancerous, but only a health care provider can tell you for sure. The self-exam has limitations, however, and is NOT a substitute for regular breast examinations from your doctor or screening mammograms.

When breast cancer is found early, you have more treatment choices and a better chance of recovery. Therefore, early detection is the key to improve your chances for survival.

Breast Cancer Self-Test:  Know that be doing breast self-exam you are not looking for cancer. You are learning the landscape of your body, so in the event there is a change, you notice and can have it looked at by a doctor. This is a pro-active approach to your health care and could save your life.
Monthly exams should be done 3-5 days after your period, when your breasts are the least tender and lumpy. It is important to do the self-exam at the same time every month. You are feeling for any lump or thickness that stands out or feels new. Although some women find it easiest to do the exam in the shower, when the skin is soft and wet, you are more likely to examine all of the breast tissue if you are lying down. It is helpful to know that all women have some lumps.
Since men get breast cancer as well, they can benefit from self-examination of the breast as well. Any changes in your breast should be reported to your health care professional and should be checked as soon as possible after discovering the change.
 The following is recommended as a procedure to follow for breast self-examination.
Step1: Stand in front of a mirror with your arms by your side. Look at your breasts directly AND in the mirror for changes in skin texture (such as dimpling, puckering, indentations, or skin that looks like an orange peel), shape, contour, or the nipple turning inward. Do the same with your arms raised above your head. . Notice the shape of your breasts. Place your hands on your hips, apply pressure, and look for dimpling of the skin, nipples that seem out of position, one breast that looks different from the other, or red scaling or thickening of the skin or nipples. Know the landscape of your body, starting with what it looks like.
 

Step 2: While standing, raise one arm above your head. With your other hand, firmly explore your breast. Beginning at the outer edge, using three fingers of your left hand, gently yet firmly press down using small motions to examine the entire right breast. Then, while sitting or standing, examine your armpit (commonly skipped) because breast tissue extends to that area. Gently squeeze the nipple, checking for discharge. Repeat the process on the left breast .Take your time when examining the area between the nipple and the armpit you have lymph nodes in the armpit; they move freely and feel soft, and are not painful to the touch. Look for lumps that are hard and not mobile. Cancers are often attached to underlying muscle or the skin.
 

Step 3: Lie down on your back and repeat step 2. Lumps may be more easily detected in this position.

Click here for a free downloadable version of the Komen breast-self exam card (BSE card)! Breast-self exam cards are also available in Italian, Korean, African-American, Russian, Spanish, Arabic, Chinese, French and German.

Fibroadenoma - A fibroadenoma is a non-cancerous benign lump that is found in breast tissue. When felt under the skin, the lump may feel rubbery and easily moveable within the breast tissue. Fibroadenomas are commonly found in young women during their reproductive years.
 

Fibrocystic breast disease - Fibrocystic breast disease is a common and benign change within the breast characterized by a dense irregular and bumpy consistency in the breast tissue. Mammography or biopsy may be needed to rule out other disorders

Graphics from:
http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001993.htm

Copyright info link: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/copyright.html