Woman should begin to give them selves monthly self breast exams by the age of 20. Woman will benefit from giving themselves monthly breast exams, because they will be able to detect any abnormalities of the breast by familiarizing themselves (monthly) with the normal shape, size, and feel of their breasts. These women who carry out the self breast exams will be able to spot anything unusual, quickly which will then influence them to see their doctor which may in effect prevent the metastasis of breast cancer (if anything is found.) Self breast exams are easy, quick, and life saving below I have included the directions on how to properly give yourself a self breast exam.
Step 1; (Undressed)Stand in front of a mirror, place your arms on your hips, maintain a straight posture by keeping your shoulder’s straight, next, place your hands on your hips. With shoulders straight and hands on hips, you want to make sure that you don’t see any visible abnormalities or changes in your breasts (nipples) such as, an unusually different size, shape or color, dimpling, or lumpiness, you want to make sure that each breast appears normal, (one breast may seem slightly different from the other, but that is normal.)
Step 2; Raise your arms and look for any abnormalities and changes such as lumps, dimpling, change in size or shape etc….
Step 3; While standing, you will use the tips of your four fingers to feel your breasts to check for any changes. Lift your left arm up and bend it so that your left hand rests on the center of your head, then take your right hand and began to press down on your breast gently and then firmly, using either a circular, or up and down, motion. You want to then move your fingers around your entire breast using either the circular or up and down motion, be sure to check the arm pit area. Take note of check any lumps, or irregularities in your breast. Work with one section of the breast at a time until you have felt and checked your entire breast. Complete this procedure with the next breast, this time you will lift your right arm and check your breast with your left hand. Always use the same motion( either up and down or circular) when checking your breasts.
Step 4. Next you want to check your nipples for any strange discharge, you do this by placing your nipple in between your thumb and index finger and then squeeze your nipple, if you notice any discharge, you should alert your doctor. (If you are pregnant or nursing there will be the milk or colostrum discharge, which is usual.) Take note of any blood if you experience a milky discharge from your nipple and you are not pregnant or nursing your should alert your doctor.
Step 5; Next you want to check your breasts by laying down flat on your back on a flat surface. If you choose to examine your right breast first, place a pillow under your right shoulder, and bend your right arm so that your right hand falls into position on your head. Using the same pattern that you chose earlier (up and down, or circular,) you want to use the fingertips of your four fingers of your left hand and work in sections, feeling for lumps, or anything unusual on your breasts until you have checked your entire breast. After you have checked your right breast you want to check your left breast, this time place a pillow underneath your left shoulder and bend your left arm, so that your left hand falls into position on your head. Use the fingertips of your right hand to check your left breast, use the same motion (up and down or circular) and began to check your breast.
