Perform a breast exam
Breast exam methods vary, but generally they involve using your eyes
and hands to observe the appearance and feel of your breasts. A breast
exam may be done while standing in front of a mirror, and while either
lying down or taking a shower. A breast exam can help identify potential
breast problems.You can aslo do a vagina exam to learn more about you vagina.
Doing routine breast exams can give you a greater awareness of the
condition of your breasts. You can learn how your breasts vary in
sensitivity and texture at different times during your menstrual cycle
and throughout different stages of life.
Breast exams, once thought essential for early breast cancer detection,
are now considered optional. What's now stressed is breast awareness -
being familiar with the normal consistency of your breasts and the
underlying tissue
Why is a breast exam necessary?
Doing breast exams helps you learn the normal feel and appearance of your breasts. That makes it easier to notice subtle but potentially serious changes, should they occur.
Say, for example, you feel a barely noticeable area of thickening in the upper area of your breast, next to your arm. If you've become familiar with how your breasts look and feel, you know your breast usually feels completely smooth in that area. Without a tactile memory from having done many breast exams, though, you might not notice this difference. Detecting such a change should prompt you to see your doctor.
Although most breast abnormalities discovered on breast exams aren't cancers, a small proportion are. Some of those cancers are at an early stage, when prompt treatment can be most effective. That's why regular breast exams - with an awareness of what's normal for you - are particularly important if you're at increased risk of breast cancer.
To gain the greatest benefit from regular breast exams, ask your doctor to review your technique at your next checkup.
What am I looking for when I do a breast exam?
You are looking for:
* a hard lump or knot in or near the breast or in your underarm
* a change in the way your breasts look or feel
If you find a lump or other change in one of your breasts, check out the other breast. If both breasts feel the same, the lumpiness is probably normal. Get to know your breasts better by doing breast exams. This will help you to tell the difference between how your breasts normally look and feel and any changes. Here are some other changes to look out for:
* dimpling, puckering, or ridges of the skin on the breast
* a nipple that is pushed inward rather than sticking out
* redness, warmth, swelling, or pain
* itchy, scaly sore or rash on the nipple
* nipple discharge other than breast milk
* change in color, shape, size, or texture of a breast
If you see or feel any of these changes, see your doctor right away
How often should I do a breast exam??
Doing a regular breast exam is optional. It's okay to not do a breast exam or to not do it on a fixed schedule. But doing a breast exam regularly is a good way to get to know how your breasts normally look and feel. This way, you can more easily notice changes. The best time to do a breast exam is when your breasts are not tender or swollen, such as a few days after your period ends.
Breast exam tips
1. You can do a portion of the exam while you are in shower. Incorporating it into a normal activity can make it easier to do, and less of a time constraint. Remember to mark your calendar every month as a reminder.
2. Do the self breast exam every month at the same time. Menstruating women should perform it a few days after their period. Women taking oral contraceptives should do the exam on the first day of starting a new pack of pills.
3. Report any changes to your physician, even if you feel it is minor.
4. You can also choose a friend who will be your BSE (breast self exam) Buddy. She can remind you and vice versa to do the exam monthly.