A breast self-exam helps you to understand the typical look and feel of your breasts. Monthly breast sell-exams are recommended to detect any changes. This helps in early detection of many conditions that causes changes in the breasts including breast cancer. Even though this is not a reliable way to detect breast cancer but it is still the most helpful thing you can do at home for breast health.
A. You can examine the breast in two ways - Standing or Lying position.
- While standing: Remove your outer and inner clothes to examine the breasts thoroughly. Use your right hand to examine your left breast and vice versa. Use the pads of three middle fingers to press on every part of your breast. Check for lumps, thick spots or any other changes. Repeat on the other side.
- While lying down: Put a pillow under your right shoulder, place your right arm behind your head and use your left hand to examine your right breast and vice versa. Check for lumps, thick spots or other changes. Repeat on the other side.
B. Use a mirror: Take off your clothes and stand in front of a mirror. Put your arms down by your side. Look for any changes in breast shape, size, swelling, rash, changes in skin color, and changes in position of nipple. Again observe for same changes by raising your arms high over your head.
C. Use pads of your fingers: Use pads of your three middle fingers to press on your breast tissue.
D. Use different pressure levels: Use light, medium and firm pressure to feel different depths of your breast.
E. Feel in a circular pattern or line pattern.
F. Look for physical changes: Look for changes in skin, texture, shape of your breasts. You can check dimpling (pitted area, uneven sunken area), puckering, indentations or skin that looks like an orange skin (peel). (peau D’orange sign). Look for warmth, heaviness, burning or enlargement of one breast.
G. Look for discoloration: Look for areas of discoloration like pink, red or purple. A bruise or rash spread over one-third part of your breast can be a sign of inflammatory breast disease.
H. Feel for lumps: A cancerous lump is usually hard, and it often has irregular edges. A cyst is fluid filled sac that often feels like a soft grape. An ultrasound will determine if the lump is a cyst.
I. Check for lymph nodes: Look for swollen lymph nodes or any swelling near your collar bone or under your arm.
J. Check under the arm: Breast tissue extends into the underarm area so check this area as well.
K.Check the nipple: The area behind the nipple can be a blind spot so make sure to press down in this area. Squeeze the nipple to check for any discharge. Inverted or retracted nipple ( a nipple pointing inwards) is a sign of breast cancer.
L. Get a mammogram: Get a early screening mammogram to help catch breast cancer early.
Remember: A breast self-exam or self-awareness is not a substitute for other breast cancer screening methods. Some breast cancers cannot be detected by just breast self-examination because they are too small. Self-exam should always be used along with:
- mammography.
- Physical examination by the doctor.
- Ultrasound, MRI or both if and when needed.
Each of this screening tools provides with different information altogether to your screening doctor which will further gives a clear picture of current breast changes.
Lumps in your breast tissue are normal and not necessary a reason to panic. Some people have naturally lumpier breast tissue. Becoming aware of what is normal will better make you understand and help you to distinguish when something does not feel normal like before.
Keep in mind that menstruation can affect the way your breast look and feel. They can be naturally tender for some during those days. It is better to do breast self-examination after period ends. For those who are in their pre-menopausal period or have irregular periods can choose any day. Choose a particular date each month that is easy to remember and maintain a dairy or notes in your smartphone to note down the changes.
If you notice any new changes in your breasts, contact team ‘Cancer In Ayurveda’ for detail guidance.
