Breast Self Exams

Technique:
Raise one arm at a time over your head and a little back.
Using opposite hand, take first two fingers and begin with the perimeter which believe it or not is under the arm pit. This area is called the Tail of Spence and is the most common area for breast cancer’s in women.
Move in a circle doing the entire perimeter before moving closer and closer to the nipple.
After examining both breasts manually, do the rest of the exam in front of a mirror after dried off.
Lean forward and note any dimples or puckering of breasts.
Also, while leaning forward note that both breasts look and move the same way.
Squeeze one nipple at a time taking note of any discharge.
Note any discolorations that are not equal on both breasts.

When to call the doctor:
Call if you note any CHANGE in the lumps in your breast or breasts after examining and getting to know yourself.
Basically, if you are naturally nodular (lumpy) than there is less concern at first if you are on an exam. You will get to know where they are each month.
Also, if the lump hurts when you push on it then it is less likely to be cancer as cancer only hurts in the Final stages and by then you would have the unintentional loss of weight, nausea, vomiting etc.
ANY discharge warrants a call to the doctor.
If your mother, sisters, aunts, or grandmother’s have had breast cancer than this is a reason to call the doctor as you need earlier mammograms and perhaps more often.
Call the doctor if one breast looks different than the other (size is a natural deviance) such as color, dimpling, or movement is different from one breast to the other or a lump that feels DIFFERENT to you than a previous exam.