What is breast self examination? Why is it important? How is it done? Here, we provide answers to your most frequently asked questions on breast self examination.
What is a breast self-examination?
An assessment you do yourself of your breasts, using your eyes and hands.
Why should I examine my breasts?
The essence of breast self examination is so you can become familiar with your own breasts: their shape, size, look, feel. This makes it easier to identify any abnormal changes to the breasts as soon as they happen, so you can notify your doctor.
It is a no-cost screening tool that can be very effective in the early detection of breast cancer when used in combination with other screening tools employed by medical experts such as the physical screening done by healthcare providers or imaging such as the ultrasound or mammogram.
When should I do a breast self-examination?
As often as you can. The point to note here is that it should be done when your breasts are not tender.
Women’s breasts typically become tender during ovulation and their monthly menstrual flow. Also during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Hormonal involvement during these times make a woman’s breasts change shape and size.
Typically, it is advised to perform a breast self-examination once a month, days after your menstrual flow has ended, when they are least likely to be full and/or tender. For menopausal women, simply choose a day in each month that will be easy for you to remember.
How effective are breast self examinations?
There’s a lot of debate on the effectiveness of breast self-examination in detecting breast cancer. It still comes highly recommended because it helps women know the normal look and feel of their breasts. This way, it’s easier to identify the smallest of abnormal changes and quickly consult a doctor.
Breast examinations remain a key screening tool in the early detection of breast cancer since it is not recommended for women under 40 to frequently do a mammogram, which may unnecessarily expose them to potentially harmful rays.
How do I perform a proper breast self-examination?
A breast examination involves visually looking at your breasts: its skin, nipples, tissue, and underarms, as well as palpating the entire area of your breasts and the region of the underarms. The exam can take several minutes. Make sure you have enough time and are comfortable in the space you are in.
First comes the visual part.
- Stand in front of a mirror, shirtless, braless, with your shoulders straight and arms at your sides
- Look out for breast that are their usual size, shape and colour
- Also look out for breasts that are evenly shaped
- If you see any of these, bring them to the attention of your doctor: dimpling, puckering or bulging of the skin; nipple that has changed position or become inverted; distortion, redness, soreness, rash, swelling or fluid coming out of one or both nipples
- Now, repeat steps 1-4 with your arms placed on your hips
- Next, raise your arms, with your palms pressed together, and repeat steps 1-4
Now the part that involves your sense of touch.
This part of your breast self-examination requires using your hands to feel your breasts. It requires using different pressure levels to feel various depths of your breasts. The goal is to feel the entire breast tissue.
- You can do this part by lying down, or while you are taking your bath. Lying down allows your breast tissue to spread out, making it easier and thinner to feel. While taking your bath, the lather of the soap allows your fingers to glide more smoothly over the skin
- Use the pads of your three middle fingers, and not the tips
- Use your left hand to examine your right breast and your right hand to examine your left breast
- Use small circular motions, covering the breasts from top to bottom, side to side; from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, from your armpit to your cleavage
- Start with light pressure, to feel the part of your breast closest to your skin. Next, move to medium pressure to have a deeper feel. Finally, use firm pressure to feel the part of your breasts that’s closest to your chest and ribs.
- Follow a pattern so you can cover the entire breast successfully
What to do it you find any unusual changes
It’s important to note though that changes found during examinations are not a confirmation of breast cancer. Not every change to the breast is cancerous. So don’t panic if you do find any changes. Simply talk to your doctor as soon as possible about what you have found. He or she will take it up from there.
