How to do a Breast Self Exam
April 3, 2008 by Karen Lynch
Filed under Women's Health
I’m feeling it is important to share a public service announcement with you:
Once women are in their twenties, they should start giving themselves monthly breast self-exams (BSE). Many survivors discovered lumps in their breasts themselves; they feel they owe their lives to BSE. (By the way, if you want to share your story about this particular aspect of early diagnosis, I’d love to read about it. Just type it in the comment section below!)
Was it a BSE that saved my life? No. BSEs were completely foreign to me when I was younger. I was tuned in enough to my body to notice that something wasn’t right, however. And of course now I can’t keep my hands off my breasts and am completely diligent!
Here’s a quick tutorial if you’ve never done a BSE:
- First off, before you even start, get somewhere private, get yourself topless (fun!) and take a look at your breasts in a mirror. You’re basically looking for any change in size, shape, shade or contour from one month to the next.
- Then, lie down (preferably somewhere comfortable) and place your right arm behind your head. (When you lie down your breast tissue will spread evenly over your chest wall therefore making it much easier to feel all your breast tissue.)
- Use the pads of your three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Move in overlapping, dime-sized circular motions, working your way around your entire breast (sort of the way a zamboni cleans an ice rink if you’ve ever been to a hockey game). Make sure you work from the underarm across the breast to the middle of your chest bone then work down from your neck or collar bone until you feel only ribs.
- Repeat the exam on your left breast, using the fingers on your right hand.
Lots of the organizations on my blogroll include BSE information on their sites. One in particular is this great site funded by the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation that I’d highly recommend to anyone wanting to learn more about this BSE.
Do a BSE every month — around the same time each month so that your monthly cycle doesn’t throw you for a loop. Do it right after your period ends. Or, when you pay the rest/your mortgage. Or, after a PTA meeting.What other reminders are there … if you have/can think of one, share it with the world via the comment section below!
This is awful, but I never do BSE. Thank you for this reminder and instructions!
Hope, you aren’t the only one — just set yourself a reminder and start asap!
Most of us start out with a fear of doing the first one. But it is so important to one each month. It will help you get to know your breasts and the feel of them so in the future you have a baseline to work from. Think about it…if you only see your Dr. once a year for your yearly exam and clinical breast exam do you think he/she’s really going to remember what they felt like last year. Be proactive and love your breasts!
If you want a more efficient and effective exam, check out my website and see the incredible tool all women should have–The Breast Chek Kit. Feel free to call me if you have any questions!