Breast Self Examination
(BSE) is easy, takes only a few minutes and is only performed once a
month. You should be aware of how your breasts normally look and
feel, and report any changes to your doctor as soon as they are
found. Finding a breast change does not mean that a cancer is
present.
You can notice changes
by being aware of how your breasts normally feel and feeling your
breasts for changes or by choosing to use a step-by-step systematic
approach and using a specific schedule to examine your breasts.
If you choose to do BSE,
the following information provides a step-by-step systematic
approach for the exam. The best time to examine your breasts is when
the breasts are not tender or swollen. If you are pregnant,
breast-feeding, or have breast implants, you can also examine your
breasts regularly. Women who examine their breasts should have their
technique reviewed during their periodic health examinations by
their doctor. It is acceptable for you to choose not to do BSE or to
do BSE occasionally.
If you choose not to do
BSE, you should still be aware of your breasts and report any
changes without delay to your doctor.
How to Examine Your Breasts.
1. Feel your breasts
~
Lie down and
place your right arm behind your head. The exam is done
while lying down, and not standing up, because when lying
down the breast tissue spreads evenly over the chest wall
and it is as thin as possible making it much easier to feel
all the breast tissue.
Use the finger
pads of the 3 middle fingers on your left hand to feel for
lumps in the right breast. Use overlapping dime-sized
circular motions of the finger pads to feel the breast
tissue.
Use 3 different
levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue. Light
pressure is needed to feel the tissue closest to the skin;
medium pressure to feel a little deeper; and firm pressure
to feel the tissue closest to the chest and ribs. A firm
ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. If you’re
not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse.
Use each pressure level to feel the breast tissue before
moving on to the next spot.
Move around the breast in an up and down pattern starting at
an imaginary line drawn straight down your side from the
underarm and moving across the breast to the middle of the
chest bone (sternum or breastbone). Be sure to check the
entire breast area going down until you feel only ribs and
up to the neck or collar bone (clavicle).
2. Look at your
breasts ~
While standing in front
of a mirror with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips, look
at your breasts for any changes of size, shape, contour, or
dimpling. (The pressing down on the hips position contracts the
chest wall muscles and enhances any breast changes.)
3. Examine your
underarms ~
Examine each underarm
while sitting up or standing and with your arm only slightly raised
so you can easily feel in this area. Raising your arm straight up
tightens the tissue in this area and makes it very difficult to
examine.
What if you find a lump?
Don’t panic! About 80%
of lumps found are not cancerous. Remember, if you find any change,
see your doctor right away.
