How do you check yourself for breast cancer?

Answer 1

Look for physical changes. Notice any changes in the size, shape or color of your breasts. Look for signs of swelling, redness, dimpling, puckering or development of a rash in the skin. Note if your nipple has changed color, position, turned inward, become itchy, scaly or painful. Also examine your nipple for any signs of a watery, milky, yellowish or bloody discharge. Do this exam in front of a mirror with your arms down by your sides and then again with your arms lifted overhead.Feel for abnormalities in the breasts. Lie down and use the opposite hand to breast. For example, use your right hand to examine your left breast. Check a large square area that encompasses all of the breast tissue. This runs a width from your armpit to your breastbone and then from your collarbone to your bra line (where the bottom of your bra would touch). Use the pads of three fingers to make small dime-size circles. Start in one area of the breast. In each area you test, make three circles. Do the first circle with a light touch, the second with a medium touch and then one circle with deeper pressure. As you move from one area to another, keep your finger pads in contact with your skin. Move in an up-and-down pattern.Examine under your armpits. Feel for abnormalities in this area as you did in your breasts, by making small circles. Notice any firm lumps or areas that feel thicker than others. When you lift your arm to examine underneath, just lift it slightly and avoid straightening your arm all the way up. According to the American Cancer Society, "raising your arm straight up tightens the tissue in this area and makes it harder to examine