You exercise regularly. You cook healthy meals at home. You wear your seatbelt. You meditate, journal, or garden to keep your stress levels in check. You’re doing everything you can to stay healthy, right?
Maybe. One critical — but sometimes forgotten — part of health maintenance is the breast self-exam.
In combination with other important breast cancer screening tools, such as mammograms and regular check-ups, breast self-exams are a crucial way to detect breast cancer early, making it more likely to be treated successfully.
"Years ago, a breast cancer diagnosis was earth-shattering — and early diagnosis was all too uncommon. Now, with increased awareness, improved screening, and advanced treatments, a breast cancer diagnosis is not only less terrifying, but also much more treatable. And breast self-exams are a critical piece of this puzzle," explains Susan Chang, MD, FACS, Board Certified Breast Surgeon.
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month, learn about why breast self-exams are a simple but life-saving tool — and how to perform one properly.
Breast Self-Exams: Simple — Yet Powerful
Breast health is not a one-time concept — it requires ongoing monitoring of how your breasts look and feel. There are many pieces to the puzzle, and each one plays a different but important role.
"While regular check-ups and mammograms can help your care team screen for breast cancer, breast self-exams help you become familiar with your breasts, so you can recognize any changes. In fact, 40% of breast cancers are detected by women who find a lump on their own," says Dr. Chang.
When it comes to self-exams, consistency is key. Breast self-exams should be performed once a month in order to help you know what is normal — and what should be reported to your healthcare provider. While most lumps are not cancerous, your healthcare provider can determine which ones need further testing.
How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam
Breast self-exams are simple and quick. They take less time than watching an episode of your favorite sitcom or even doing a load of laundry. With this two-part guide, you can be on your way to improved breast health.
Part 1: Assess Your Breasts
Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders straight and arms on your hips. Look for changes in your breasts’ shape (dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin), appearance (redness, rash, or swelling), or nipples (changed position, fluid coming out, or inversion, meaning the nipple is pushed inward instead of sticking out). Also, take note of any soreness in your breasts.
Then, repeat the process — this time, with your arms raised above your head.
Part 2: Perform a Physical Self-Examination
While lying down, feel your breasts using the opposite hand for each breast. Using your first few finger pads — keeping them flat and together — make circular motions roughly the size of a quarter. Maintain a firm and smooth touch.
Cover your entire breast. This means you should feel from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen and from your armpit to in between your breasts.
It can be helpful to follow a pattern to make sure you cover your whole breast. For instance, you can start at the nipple, then move in increasingly larger circles until you reach the outer edge of your breast. Or, you can move your fingers up and down in rows — similar to how you might mow a lawn.
Then, repeat the previous process, but this time while standing. Many women find it to be helpful to perform a standing assessment while their skin is wet and slippery, such as in the shower.
What to Do if You Notice a Change or a Lump in Your Breast
If you find a lump in your breast — or notice any other change — don't panic. Many women always have lumps in their breasts, and most are nothing to worry about. In fact, 8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. Something as simple as hormones could be the reason for a lump.
Still, don’t hesitate to let your healthcare provider know of any lumps or changes. This is particularly important for changes that last more than one full menstrual cycle or become more noticeable over time.
Keep in mind — though it's rare, men can get breast cancer, too. Symptoms, such as a lump, nipple discharge, or dimpling of breast skin, should all be discussed with a healthcare provider.
At an appointment to evaluate a breast lump, your provider will do a physical exam of your breast. In some cases, they will do further testing, such as an ultrasound, MRI (magnetic resonance imaging), or biopsy (removing cells or tissues to be examined by a pathologist).
Making Breast Self-Exams a Routine Part of Your Breast Health Plan
A breast self-exam takes just 10 minutes, but it can add years to your life. By getting to know your breasts each month, you can easily identify any changes to report to your provider.
Whether you perform your self-exams on the first of each month, set a reminder in your phone, or put a sticker on your calendar, find a way to make sure breast self-exams become — and remain — a part of your breast health routine.
Breast self-exams, in addition to other screening tools, like yearly mammograms and check-ups, are part of a complete and robust breast health plan. A little bit of proactivity can go a long way when it comes to your breast health.
If you have questions about your breast health or breast imaging services at Chester County Hospital, call 800-789-7366 (PENN) or fill out our mammography information request form.
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