Breast Examinations

Posted on February 7th, 2008 by olga

It is significant to have monthly breast self-examination (BSE) to help recognize changes or abnormalities which may lead to the early detection of breast cancer. If you have a sexual partner they may feel a lump in your breast. In such situations you should go to the doctor immediately.
The best time to check up your breasts is a couple of days after the end of your period, as soon as your breasts are least possible to be tender or swollen. If you do not have periods, prefer a day you will keep in mind such as the first day of each month, to jog your memory that you require to perform a BSE.
Prefer whichever of the following techniques is most easy for you:
-First take a good look at your breasts
-Undress from the waist up and stand in front of the mirror
-Put your hands at your sides
-Look circumspectly for changes in size, shape and contour of each breast
-Look for puckering, dimpling or changes in skin texture or any changes to your nipples
-Do again the above steps with your hands on your hips and then above your head
-Feel your breasts
You may like to do this lying down with a pillow under the same shoulder as the breast being examined, or standing up in the shower.
In either position
-Raise your arm above your head
-With fingers flat, press firmly on your left breast with your right hand moving the skin over your breast in a gentle rotating movement
-Begin at the collar bone and spiral in toward the nipple
-Check up every part of the breast including your armpit. (This area is breast tissue too.) Look and feel for any lumps, thickening or other changes from previous inspections
-Gently squeeze your nipple, looking for any discharge
-Repeat the process, using your left hand to examine your right breast.
If you observe anything atypical in your monthly checks, see your physician. Remember that most breast lumps or other changes are not cancer. On the other hand, your doctor will almost certainly want to study your breasts and perhaps organize tests to establish whether you have breast cancer.