•Your doctor may recommend additional tests and procedures to investigate breast changes, including a clinical breast exam, mammogram and ultrasound.
•Collaboration with cancer survivors, advocacy and community groups is crucial for the effective creation and dissemination of breast health awareness messages.
As Breast Cancer Awareness month comes to a close this October, you must keep your breast in check by doing a breast exam from a professional or in the comfort of your home.
A breast self-exam is an inspection of your breast that you do on your own.
Here you use both your eyes and hands to determine if there are any changes in both the look and feel.
However, most medical organizations do not recommend self-exams as part of breast cancer screening as they are not as effective in detecting cancer.
It is advised that you ask your doctor for a demonstration before you begin breast self-exams as he will discuss the instructions and techniques you can always use.
If you are also on your period, the Mayo Clinic also suggests that you choose a time in your cycle when your breasts are the least tender.
“Your hormone levels fluctuate each month during your menstrual cycle, which causes changes in breast tissue. Swelling begins to decrease when your period starts. The best time to perform a self-exam for breast awareness is usually the week after your period ends.”
Kilele Health recommends that women and men do a breast exam at least once a month. Including it in your routine after a shower might be the best way to start.
Image: verywellhealth
The Visual Test
Sit or stand shirtless and braless in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides.
To inspect your breasts visually, do the following:
- Face forward and look for puckering, dimpling, or changes in size, shape, or symmetry.
- Check to see if your nipples are turned in (inverted).
- Inspect your breasts with your hands pressed down on your hips.
- Inspect your breasts with your arms raised overhead and the palms of your hands pressed together.
- Lift your breasts to see if the ridges along the bottom are symmetrical.
However, if you have vision issues, that make it difficult to inspect, ask a trusted friend or a family member to help you.
Physical Test
Check for lumps. But finding a change or lump in your breast is not a reason to panic.
The Mayo Clinic says that breasts often feel different in different places.
A firm ridge along the bottom of each breast is normal, for instance. The look and feel of your breasts will change as you age.
- Lying down on a flat surface, keeping your back straight, allows the breast tissue spreads out, making it thinner and easier to feel.
- In the shower, you can lather soap and use your fingers to glide over the skin of your breast.
The goal is to feel different depths of the breast by using different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue.
If you have a disability that makes it difficult to examine your breasts using this technique, you likely can still conduct a breast self-exam. Ask your doctor to show you ways you can examine your breasts.
Results
The clinic suggests that one should make an appointment with their doctor if one notices:
- A hard lump near your underarm.
- Changes in the way your breasts look or feel, including thickening or prominent fullness that is different from the surrounding tissue.
- Dimples, bulges or ridges on the skin of your breast.
- A recent change in a nipple to become pushed in (inverted) instead of sticking out.
- Redness, warmth, swelling or pain.
- Itching, scales, sores or rashes
- Bloody nipple discharge or any discharge.
Your doctor may recommend additional tests and procedures to investigate breast changes, including a clinical breast exam, mammogram and ultrasound.
Collaboration with cancer survivors, advocacy and community groups is crucial for the effective creation and dissemination of breast health awareness messages.
Physical Test
Check for lumps. But finding a change or lump in your breast is not a reason to panic.
The Mayo Clinic says that breasts often feel different in different places.
A firm ridge along the bottom of each breast is normal, for instance. The look and feel of your breasts will change as you age.
- Lying down on a flat surface, keeping your back straight, allows the breast tissue spreads out, making it thinner and easier to feel.
- In the shower, you can lather soap and use your fingers to glide over the skin of your breast.
The goal is to feel different depths of the breast by using different levels of pressure to feel all the breast tissue.
If you have a disability that makes it difficult to examine your breasts using this technique, you likely can still conduct a breast self-exam. Ask your doctor to show you ways you can examine your breasts.
Image: MARGARET WANJIRU
Results
The clinic suggests that one should make an appointment with their doctor if one notices:
- A hard lump near your underarm.
- Changes in the way your breasts look or feel, including thickening or prominent fullness that is different from the surrounding tissue.
- Dimples, bulges or ridges on the skin of your breast.
- A recent change in a nipple to become pushed in (inverted) instead of sticking out.
- Redness, warmth, swelling or pain.
- Itching, scales, sores or rashes
- Bloody nipple discharge or any discharge.
Your doctor may recommend additional tests and procedures to investigate breast changes, including a clinical breast exam, mammogram and ultrasound.
Collaboration with cancer survivors, advocacy and community groups is crucial for the effective creation and dissemination of breast health awareness messages.