How to Perform A Breast Self Exam
Studies have shown that self-exams are an important part of breast health awareness and early cancer detection. Since breast cancers are often found by women who notice a change in the look or feel of their breasts, pairing self-exams together with yearly screening mammograms* can help with early detection.
A routine, monthly self-exam can help you get to know what is and is not normal for your body.
If you are still menstruating, you should do self-exams a few days after your cycle has ended. Post-menopausal women should check their breasts on the same day each month. Men should also check their chest area for any noticeable changes.
Do a thorough three-part breast self-exam:
- When standing up: With the flat pads of your three middle fingers, use an up and down pattern to move from the underarm and across the breast to the middle of the chest bone. Be sure to check the entire breast area going down until you feel only the ribs and up to the collar bone. Use light, then medium, then firm pressure on each area. Notice any lumps, hardened knots, unusual thickness or changes.
- While lying down: Put a pillow under your right side and your right arm under your head. Use your left hand to check your right breast in the same way as listed above. Repeat on the left side. Check for lumps, hardened knots, unusual thickness or changes.
- In a mirror: Stand with your hands by your side. Look for any lumps, swelling, dimples or changes in your nipples. Next, put your hands on your hips and flex your chest muscles. Check for any dimples, puckering or unusual differences between each side.
If you have questions about what you are looking for and feeling during your self-exam, or how to properly perform one, your health care provider can help.
*Because mammograms detect breast changes early, before they can be seen or felt, yearly mammograms should begin at age 40. Patients at a higher risk of breast cancer, because they have a family history or a known genetic mutation (such as the BRCA gene), should speak with their health care provider about screening.
Meg is a certified breast care nurse and breast health navigator who serves both as a direct point of contact for referring physicians and as an advocate for patients, providing them with a coordinated, seamless and personalized care management plans. With more than 25 years of nursing experience, Meg has served as a breast care navigator for many years and has started two breast care navigator programs.
She is certified by EduCare as a breast health navigator and by the Oncology Nurse’s Certification Corporation as a certified breast care nurse and received a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Nursing from the University of North Florida in Jacksonville. Meg has served as president of the Virginia Breast Cancer Foundation‘s Board of Directors and lobbied for breast cancer-related issues on both the state and national level. She has also reviewed Breast Cancer Research proposals for the Department of Defense office of Congressionally Directed Medical Research Program.