It’s a way for you to check your breasts for changes, such as lumps or thickening. It’s a good idea to get to know what’s normal for your breasts That way, you can check with your doctor if you notice something unusual, such as a lump, skin change, or discharge.
Should I do a breast examination?
Anyone with breast tissue can get breast cancer. Breast cancer can also affect Men If you’re a cis man and breast cancer runs in your family, ask your doctor whether it makes sense to do monthly self-exam. Breast cancer is more common among men between ages 60-70. It can affect Transgender men, Transgender women & Nonbinary people.
How to do Breast Self-Exam?
Follow these steps:
In the mirror:
- Stand undressed from the waist before a large mirror in a well-lit room.
- Look at your breasts. If they aren’t equal in size or shape, that’s OK! Most aren’t.
- With your arms relaxed by your sides, look for any changes in size, shape, position, or skin changes.
- Look for any puckering, dimpling, sores, or discolouration.
- Check your nipples and look for any sores, peeling, or changes in their direction.
- Place your hands on your hips and press down firmly to tighten the chest muscles beneath your breasts.
- Turn from side to side so you can look at the outer part of your breasts.
- Then bend forward toward the mirror. Roll your shoulders and elbows forward to tighten your chest muscles.
- Your breasts will fall forward. Look for any changes in their shape or contour.
- Now, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward.
- Again, turn from side to side to inspect your breasts’ outer portions. Remember to look at the border underneath them.
- You may need to lift your breast with your hand to see it.
- Check your nipples for discharge fluid. Place your thumb and forefinger on the tissue surrounding the nipple and pull outward toward the end of the nipple. Look for any discharge.
- Repeat on your other breast.
In the shower:
- Feel for changes in the breast. It helps to have your hands slippery with soap and water, especially if you don’t have much breast tissue.
- Check for any lumps or thickening in your underarm area.
- Place your left hand on your hip and reach with your right hand to feel in the left armpit.
- Repeat on the other side.
- Check both sides for lumps or thickenings above and below your collarbone.
- With hands soapy, raise one arm behind your head to spread out the breast tissue.
- Use the flat part of your fingers from the other hand to press gently into the breast.
- Follow an up-and-down pattern, moving from the bra line to the collarbone.
- Continue the pattern until you have covered the entire breast.
- Repeat on the other side.
Lying down:
- Lie down and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder.
- Put your right hand behind your head.
- Place your left hand on the upper portion of your right breast with your fingers together and flat.
- Body lotion may help to make this easier.
- Think of your breast as a face on a clock.
- Start at noon and move toward 1 o’clock in small circular motions.
- Continue around the entire circle until you reach noon again.
- Keep your finger flat and in constant contact with your breast.
- When the circle is complete, move 1 inch toward the nipple and complete another circle around the clock.
- Continue in this pattern until you’ve felt the entire breast.
- Make sure to feel the upper outer areas that extend into your armpit.
- Place your fingers flat and directly on top of your nipple. Feel beneath the nipple for any changes.
- Gently press your nipple inward. It should move easily.
- Repeat these steps on your other side.
