BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION
It’s a good idea to perform the self-exam the week after your menstrual period has ended. Your breasts will be less congested at this time, and any new growths will be easy to detect. Some women do their self-exam in the shower, because moist skin makes it easier to massage the breast in a circular motion, which is the best way to detect a lump.
First, stand before a mirror and check the nipples and skin of your breasts for any visible changes. Have the nipples or areola changed color since your exam last month? Does any portion of the skin of the breast appear puckered like an orange peel? Is there any noticeable swelling?
Next, raise your arms above your head. Do you notice any difference in the symmetry or appearance of your breasts?
The next, most important step can be done either in the shower or lying on your back. Start with your right breast. Raise your right arm above your head, and, holding your fingertips closely together, start at the top of the breast, at what would be twelve o’clock. Gently move your fingers in a circular motion while you check for any lumps. Next, move to one o’clock, and so on, until you have checked for lumps at the position of every hour on your breast. Next, follow the same motion for the area of the breast that lies under the nipple. Then, gently squeeze the nipple to check for any abnormal discharge. It’s also important to check the area under your armpit, where lymph nodes are located.
Repeat the procedure for your left breast.
If you discover a lump in your breast, you should see your doctor. A regular monthly self-exam can be helpful because it helps you to become familiar with lumps or masses that appear in your breasts and are noncancerous, and also to be aware of changes in your breasts that might indicate the presence of a malignancy. If you have trouble distinguishing between normal breast tissue, glands, and a lump, ask your gynecologist if she has a breast prosthesis that you can feel so you know what a lump feels like. Normal breast tissue can have masses and stringy tissue, but a lump is usually hard and starts out the size of a small pebble.
If you detect a lump, immediately see your doctor, who will then determine the status of the mass. Most lumps are not cancerous, but any new masses that you may find and that your doctor deems suspicious will require further examination. She may choose a mammogram, ultrasound, or biopsy.
A monthly self-exam can mean the difference between successful treatment and a fatal illness. Get in the habit of checking your breasts every month without fail.
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Tags: General health