Breast self-exam (examination your breast on your own) is one of the important way to find a breast cancer in earlier stage.
I assume that “breast self-exam” make you anxious at first because you may detect lumps, but you don’t know what they are and what is normal.
However, the more you do “breast self-exam”, the more you will be able to know what is unusual for your breast.
Let’s start monthly “breast self-exam” from today!
If you don’t know how to do it, please refer to the following instruction.
- In front of a mirror
Take a careful look at your breast; size, shape and distortion rest your arms by your side and after, raise your arms like an illustration below.
- Check your nipple
Look for any signs of fluid coming out of you nipples.
- In the shower
Using the pads of your 3 fingers to exam your entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the center to the outside.
Then, moving your 3finger pads from up and down to touch whole breast; including armpit and subclavicular.
When you do this exam, touch your left breast by right hand and for your right breast, and use your left hand.
Don’t grab or pinch your breast or push hard, touch and stroke gently.
If you find any unusual thing, you had better to see a breast oncologist ASAP.
[by Akiko]