Breast Self Exam

Breast Self Exam Described Simply

A breast self exam is an exam you do yourself that can look for signs of breast cancer. A breast self exam can detect breast cysts or a breast cancer tumor.  Some doctors recommend you do breast self exam every month to see if there are any changes in the breast.

A breast self exam gets you used to the look and feel of your breasts so you can tell if there are any changes in the breasts.  It is a way that you can tell if you have breast cancer. Causes of breast cancer deaths include women who don’t examine their breasts and find the cancer too late.

You can talk to your doctor and have her show you how to examine your breasts.  We will describe it later so you can read how to do a breast self exam.  It can save your life if you find something early enough to treat.

How to do a Breast Self Exam

You need to do your breast self exam at least three to four days after your menstrual period so you don’t feel the normal breast cysts that can occur around the menstrual period.  A breast cancer tumor will be there no matter when your period is.

You begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror.  Look to see what the shape and size of the breasts are. Some of the signs of breast cancer are an irregular shape to the breast or lumps in the armpit.  Put your hands up behind your head so you can see the armpits.  See if there are any dimples in the breast or places where a breast pulls inward.

Look for redness on the breast as this can be one of the signs of breast cancer.  In a breast self exam, you should also look for a rash or scaling on the breasts.  Put your hands on your hips and lean forward, looking to see how your breasts are shaped.

Feeling Your Breasts in a Breast Self Exam

There are three separate ways to evaluate the breasts during breast self exam. You can look for signs of breast cancer by starting at the top of the breast.  Use the flat parts of your fingertips to push on the breast.  You need to move in small circles around the breast.  Finish at the nipple. Then gently squeeze the nipple to look for bloody discharge.  Make sure all the areas of each breast are covered in the exam.

There is the “Wheel Spokes” method.  You divide your breast into sections.  Then you start at the top of the breast, finishing one section before going on to the next section.  Finish the entire breast.  Make sure you do the breast self exam on both breasts.

In the grid method, you start at the inside portion of the breast. Press down to check for signs of breast cancer.   Look for breast cysts or for a breast cancer tumor.  Move up and down the breasts until you get to the outside of the breasts.

It is a good idea to lie down when you are examining the breast.  This way you flatten out the breast.  Raise your arm on the side you are checking.

Check the area between the breast and the armpit and check the armpit.  Stand up and examine the breast, too. A breast cancer tumor in the upper part of the breast is easier to see standing up.  Don’t forget to check each nipple for discharge.

A breast self exam will help you know what your breast normally feels like.  It will let you know what minor lumps and bumps are always there.  These are probably breast cysts or are connective tissue that is clumped in one place.  Knowing what your breasts are normally like will help you find something that is out of place, like a breast cancer tumor.

If You Find Something on Breast Self Exam

If you feel something is suspicious or just different in your breast, you can see the doctor.  The doctor will examine the breast.  A manual examination cannot tell the difference between breast cysts and a breast cancer tumor.  Your doctor will likely order a mammogram or an MRI of the breast.

A mammogram is an x-ray test that can tell if there are calcium deposits in the breast which are a sign of breast cancer.  A breast mammogram can also see breast cysts.  Sometimes the mammogram cannot tell the difference between a breast cancer tumor and a breast cyst.  Another test may be necessary.

That other test is a breast cancer ultrasound.  It is a test that uses high frequency sound waves to show solid tissue and liquid tissue.  A cyst is liquid and will show up as dark colored on the ultrasound.  A solid tumor will show up as a whitish area.

Doctors can use ultrasound to guide a needle to take a sample of the lesion on the ultrasound.  It can be checked for cancer. I know this all sounds pretty complicated and very particular, but it is so important for you to get in the habit of checking for this potential problem.

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