Our breasts do so much for us — from sitting pretty in a low cut top to nourishing our little ones. If you’re looking to return the favor, a self-exam is a great way to show your breasts some love.
When combined with regular physicals and other screening tools, self-exams can foster a sense of attunement with your body and increase the chances of early breast cancer detection.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month and beyond, taking a few minutes each month to get up close and personal with your breasts can provide you with a renewed sense of familiarity with your body, making it easier to detect any changes.
Ahead, we give you the low down on warning signs and abnormalities to be wary of, as well as helpful techniques for examining your breasts from home.
Get to Know the Signs and Symptoms
According to Know Your Lemons, a foundation taking a creative approach to early breast cancer detection and education, there are 12 major symptoms to watch out for when doing a self-exam.
Those important warning signs include dimpling, fluid and discharge, skin sores, bumps, growing veins, changes to the shape and size of your breast or nipple, hard lumps, nipple crust, thick areas, redness and hotness, sunken nipples, and rough skin texture.
Knowing what you’re looking for is half the battle, but it can be difficult to discern which lumps are normal and which ones aren’t. In addition to the symptoms above, know that it’s normal for your milk lobes and lymph nodes to feel like soft peas or beans.
Perilous lumps, on the other hand, will feel hard and stiff. Still not sure if what you’re feeling is normal? Air on the side of safety and consult your doctor.
How to Self-Examine
Doing a self-examination goes beyond just giving your breasts a squeeze — it involves intimately getting to know your anatomy in ways that may, initially, feel totally unfamiliar.
While sitting or laying down, move the pads of your fingers in a circular or up-and-down motion starting at your nipple. Gradually begin to apply more pressure as you move towards the middle and edge of your breasts — a firmer touch will allow you to probe deep tissue.
Stretching your arm behind your head will make it easier to feel out the bottom of your breast and armpit area where your lymph nodes are — an area that often swells when things are awry.
Using the same motion, be sure to feel the areas that span your collarbone to the bottom of your ribs. Examining your breasts in the mirror with your hands on your hips is also a great way to spot any dimpling or other oddities that go unnoticed via touch.
Many women incorporate regular self-exams into their showers. The wet and slippery conditions can make it easier to slide your fingers across your breasts. It can also be helpful to integrate self-exams into an existing habit.
Be Consistent
Consistency is key when it comes to monitoring your breast health. If you have a period, make it a routine to do a self-exam at the end of your menstrual cycle when your breasts are least tender and swollen. If you don’t have a period, set a reminder in your calendar for each month.
Risk tends to increase with age, which means getting familiar with your breasts early on can make it easier to detect changes throughout your life. Journaling about your breast health, including any swelling or lumps, can help you remember what’s normal and what’s not.
It’s common for your body and breasts to change depending on your menstrual phase, including lumps that appear and disappear throughout your cycle. Keeping a journal allows you to track patterns and how your breasts feel compared to previous months.
Early detection can be life-saving. Don’t be shy to share your findings with your doctor as you learn more about what healthy breasts look and feel like.
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We hope you found this post informative — but remember: we’re not doctors and this post is not medical advice! While all posts are fact-checked and well researched, we always recommend you chat with your doctor about any questions or concerns you might have regarding a medical condition. We’re here to support and educate, but never with the aim of disregarding professional medical advice you’ve been given. Phew, now that that’s out of the way, you can go on living unapologetically free.