How to do a Breast Self-Examination

My OB Gynecologist taught me how to perform breast self-examination. This is a way for us to know how our breasts normally look and feel like, making it easy to notice changes in our breasts. This is how I found a soft lump in my right breast.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• bed

1. Examine your breasts once a month. A few days after your period is a good time to perform a Breast Self-Examination as your breasts are less likely to be tender or sore. If you have irregular periods, you can examine your breasts at any time of the month.

2. To examine your right breast, lie down and put your right arm under your head and use your left hand to examine your breast. Use the pads of your three middle fingers (not only your fingertips) and sweep from your collarbone down to your nipple using a walking motion to feel for lumps. Make sure you work clockwise around the breast. Always sweep your fingers from the outside of your breast toward your nipple. Continue examining your breast in sweeping manner until you have completely examined your entire breast and underarm.

3. To examine your left breast, put your left arm behind your head and use your right hand to examine your breast.

4. Some women prefer to do a Breast Self-Examination while standing in the shower. If our skin is wet and lathered with soap, it is easier to feel our breast tissue. Stand with left arm raised and put left hand behind your head. Feel your left breast with your right hand. Do the same with your right breast.

Tips & Warnings

• Remember that Breast Self-Examination does not substitute a clinical breast examination and mammogram.

Resources

• Susan G. Komen Breast Self-Exam Instructional Tool
• Mayo Clinic Breast Examination

[FrazzledNanny]

on 3/3/2009 Thanks for the important, well written article. I hope a lot of women read this. 5*