A three-step plan for breast health & preventive care

There are two parts to a self-exam: how your breasts look and how they feel.

How they look:

Before putting on a bra, stand or sit in front of a well-lit mirror with your arms relaxed at your sides. Take a good, careful look. And don’t be shy. Do you see anything unusual? Check for changes in the size, shape and contour of each breast, including the nipple. Also look for puckering, dimpling or changes in skin texture.

Take a look at yourself from different angles and arm positions. There’s no such thing as a bad angle here. Keep your hands at your side, raise your arms overhead, place your hands firmly on your hips (which will help tighten your chest wall muscles) and even bend forward.

How they feel:

Use the pads of your three middle fingers—moving them in an overlapping circular motion about the size of a dime over your breasts. Move up and down from the outside of the breast (under your armpit) toward the middle of your chest, making sure to cover every area of the breast. Examine up to your collarbone and down to the bottom of the ribcage.

Remember you are feeling for lumps, bumps or anything that may seem different from your last monthly exam.

While not every lump is breast cancer, it is important to let your doctor know if you find a lump or anything that feels different or concerns you.

How to perform a self-exam:

The best time to do your monthly breast self-exam is about a week after your period starts. If you have gone through menopause, you should perform your breast self-exam on the same day each month.

In the shower: Raise one arm. With fingers flat, touch every part of each breast and the area around it, gently feeling for a lump or changes under the skin. Use your right hand to examine your left breast, your left hand for your right breast.

Lying down: Place a towel or pillow under your right shoulder and your right hand on your forehead, palm up. Examine your right breast with your left hand pressing gently but firmly. Then use your finger and thumb to gently squeeze your nipple, watching for any discharge. Repeat by examining the left breast in the same way.

Vertical and Circular: Fingers flat, press gently in vertical lines or small circles, starting under your arm, and move in toward the nipple. Be sure to cover your entire breast area. Repeat with left breast area.

Resting Your Arm: With your arm resting on a firm surface, use the same method to examine the underarm area. This is breast tissue also.

If at any time you notice changes, see your physician right away.

This self-exam is not a substitute for periodic examinations by a qualified physician.

Want more detailed instructions? Ask your doctor to show you how to perform a self-exam so you recognize how to feel for any unusual lumps and changes in your breasts.

What radiologists look for on a mammogram

What does a lump feel like?

Your breasts are made up of tissues of varying consistencies. The upper, outer part of your breast usually feels firm and bumpy, while the surrounding tissue in the inner and lower parts of your breasts is soft. Doing a breast self-exam monthly will help you recognize how your breasts normally feel—and when something changes and doesn’t feel quite right.

Not all lumps are cancerous, nor do all lumps feel the same. Lumps that are painless and hard with irregular edges are more likely to be cancerous. But some cancerous growths can be soft, rounded or painful. If you notice any new or suspicious lumps, call your physician right away.

5 steps to take after finding a lump

First, don’t panic. Finding a lump does not automatically mean you have breast cancer. In fact, about 85-90% of breast lumps are not cancerous. Still, you shouldn’t ignore it. Instead, you should:

1. Call your doctor and schedule an appointment to be examined as soon as possible. Early diagnosis is key to survival – the sooner you are diagnosed, the better your chances for beating it.
2. Your doctor will conduct a breast exam and may order diagnostic testing, which could include a mammogram and/or ultrasound.
3. If the results of your diagnostic testing are abnormal, your doctor will likely order a breast biopsy, in which a sample of tissue is taken from your breast to be examined for possible cancer. The biopsy, which can be performed in an out-patient setting, is used to determine if a lump is cancerous or if it is a benign breast condition.
4. If the advanced diagnostic tests determine the lump is breast cancer, additional tests will be performed to determine the extent of the disease.
5. A multi-disciplinary team of breast cancer specialists will work together to develop your personalized and comprehensive care plan.