Yes, you can give yourself a breast exam. This is called as Breast Self-Examination (BSE), as the name indicates – it can be performed on your own.
Breast Self-Examination is an early detection method and is an effective weapon in the fight against breast cancer in a country like India.
It is recommended to perform a monthly breast self-exam. Women can assign a day i.e., once monthly for breast self-exam. BSE is to be performed two to three days after your period or on the same date each month if you no longer have periods.
There are three steps:
Step 1: Begin with a Visual Examination
Remove your shirt and bra, then stand squarely in front of a mirror. Perform your visual inspection three times as follows: with your arms relaxed at your sides, with your arms raised over your head and with your hands placed firmly on your hips (so that your chest muscles are flexed).
What to look for in visual examination:
- Swelling
- Redness
- Dimpling
- Nipple retraction
Be thorough and examine your entire breast.
Step 2: Perform a Manual Inspection while you are standing
Continue by using your hands to physically examine your breasts. Follow a circular pattern to ensure entire breast is covered. Use opposite hands to examine opposite breasts.
Next, use your right hand to manually examine your left breast and underarm area for lumps, knots, thickened areas and other unusual changes. Follow a circular pattern to help ensure that you don’t miss any areas. Gently squeeze your nipple to check for discharge.
What to look for in manual examination:
- Lumps
- Dimples
- Anything that is unusual
At the end, gently squeeze your nipple to check for discharge.
Step 3: Perform a Manual Inspection while you are lying down
Lie down on a bed and place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right hand behind your head. Use your left hand to manually examine your right breast using the same techniques as described in step 2.
Then, do the same with opposite breast and swap your right hand with left hand over your head.
If you discover any abnormal changes with your breast, do not panic but discuss with your doctor right away.
References:
- How to Do a Self-Breast Exam. Moffitt Cancer Center. https://moffitt.org/cancers/breast-cancer/faqs/how-to-do-a-self-breast-exam/