While there’s no surefire way to prevent breast cancer, self-examination may help boost the odds in your favour, depending on your age and medical history.
A breast self-exam (BSE) includes both looking and feeling over the entire breast and chest area, and as a general rule should be performed once a month. The best time to conduct an exam is about a week after the beginning of your period, when your breasts are at their least swollen and tender. Here’s how to do it:
[Note: breast and testicular self-examination may not be appropriate for everyone. Your doctor can help you determine if you stand to benefit from these techniques.]
Manual Inspection
Stand upright or lie down on your back
For each breast: move the pads of your middle three fingers around the breast in a pattern, making sure to cover the entire breast area. Try different patterns, such as vertical, circular, or “spokes of a wheel”
Remember that most breast cancers are found in the upper, outer portion of the breast or in the area behind the nipple, so pay particular attention to these areas
Also inspect the areas around your breasts, including the region from the armpit to the collarbone, and below the breasts
If you began by standing up, lie down and repeat the same procedure; if you began by lying down, stand up and repeat the same procedure
Visual Inspection
Stand in front of a mirror with your arms by your sides and check your breasts for any changes in size, shape or position, dimpling or puckering of the skin, pushed-in or misshapen nipples, redness, swelling or other irregularities.
Repeat the inspection with your hands on your hips
Raise your arms over or behind your head, and turn to each side to inspect your breasts in profile
