The Five Steps Of A Breast Self-Exam

Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders
straight and your arms on your hips.Here's what you should look
for:Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and colour and breasts
that are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling

If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor's
attention:Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin. Also look out
for a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple, redness,
soreness, rash, or swelling.

Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.

While you are at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of
one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or
blood.

Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to
feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right
breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of
your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular
motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side -- from your
collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your
cleavage.

Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can
begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you
reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up
and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This
up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to
feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for
the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium
pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure
for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue,
you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.

Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many
women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their
skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower.
Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in
above.

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