How to Perform a Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

A breast self-examination (BSE) is very important in early detection of breast cancers. It involves regularly checking your breasts while standing or lying down in different positions for unusual lumps or growths. Breast self-examinations should not replace check ups by your physician or recommended mammograms.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. 

   A breast self-examination (BSE) is best performed one week after the beginning of your menstrual period when your breasts are swollen. If you have stopped menstruating due to menopause or a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus) or if your periods are irregular, the breast self examination (BSE) can also be performed at any other time of the month. If you are breast feeding, make sure to perform the breast self-examination (BSE) right after a feeding or pumping session when your breasts are less full of milk.

2. 

   Lying Down: When lying down, it is easier to feel for unusual lumps because the breast tissue spreads around on your chest. Use the pads of the middle three fingers of your left hand to examine your right breast and repeat it with the fingers of your right hand for your left breast. Move your fingers in a circle.

3. Apply different levels of pressure with your fingers to ensure you get to feel the tissues right beneath the skin as well as tissues that are situated deeper in your chest.

4. Make sure to feel not just the tissue in the round of your breast but examine all tissue from the collarbone at the top to the armpit on the side to the sternum (breastbone) in the middle of your chest. The American Cancer Society (ACS) recommends using a lengthwise strip pattern. The other method is to use a spiral pattern.

5. 

   Standing in the shower: Lift one arm over your hand and use the fingers of your other hand to detect any changes in your breast and repeat on the other side.

6. Standing in front of a mirror: Check your breasts in the mirror to see if you recognize any changes in the size and look of your breasts such as one breast being unusually larger or lower than the other.

7. Other things to look for are thickening of tissues, sticky, green or bloody discharge from your nipples, changes in the skin such as puckering, wrinkling or dimpling. Scaly rashes should also be checked.

8. Clinical breast examinations (CBE) are recommended annually for all women over the age of 40. Self breast-examinations (SBE) are not meant to replace clinical breast examinations (CBE).

Tips & Warnings

• Not all lumps are cancerous. A biopsy and/or a mammography may be needed to distinguish between a benign tumor and a malignant one.
• A lump can be caused by cysts, a fibroadenoma, or generalized breast lumpiness (fibrocystic breast changes). These growths are not cancerous.
• Make sure to let your physician know if you are concerned with any lumps, growths or unusual discharge or appearances in your breasts.

Resources

• How to Tell a Heart Attack from Heartburn

[kaytay]

on 3/25/2009 excellent article on a fantastic topic. breast self exams are so important and oftentimes lifesaving. thank you

[mkh1958]

on 3/22/2009 How to Perform a Breast Self-Examination (BSE) - great article and important topic. 5*

[sonni57]

on 3/21/2009 Thanks for the good info on how to do a self breast exam.

[mosscampion]

on 3/16/2009 This is very important, thanks!

[carby]

on 3/15/2009 Very good and very important information. 5* and a rec