Breast self-examination is a preventive tool for early detection of breast cancer, with two goals: familiarizing oneself with breasts and monitoring changes. Women should do it once a month and visit a doctor annually, while older women should get regular mammograms. The exam involves looking for lumps, dimpling, nipple changes, and texture and color changes. Women should do it about a week after their period ends and lie down on a flat surface, making small overlapping circles from the collarbone to the underside of the breast and up to the armpit.
Breast self-examination (BSE) is a preventive tool used for the early detection of breast cancer. All women can and are encouraged to do breast self-examination, as early detection makes breast cancer much easier to treat. Starting in their mid-twenties, women should have breast exams once a month and should also visit a doctor for an annual exam. Doctors recommend that older women get regular mammograms to look for abnormal tissue.
There are two goals for breast self-examination. The first is to familiarize yourself with your breasts so that changes in the tissue are easily identified. The second is to look for changes and monitor them. If women notice changes in their breasts, they should bring these changes to a doctor’s attention for further diagnosis. Many of the lumps that appear in the breast are benign, but it’s important to eliminate any chance of breast cancer as soon as possible.
During the breast self-exam, women look for lumps, dimpling of the skin, nipple changes, and changes in the texture and color of the breasts. Typically, women do a breast self-exam about a week after their period ends, to make sure their breasts aren’t swollen and tender. Women who no longer have periods can set a particular date each month for the breast self-examination.
In the first stage of a breast self-examination, a woman should remove all clothing from her upper body and stand in front of a mirror so that she can look at her breasts clearly. Changes in breast shape and size should be noted, along with changes in symmetry, texture, or color. The woman moves through a series of positions, looking at the shape of her breasts with her arms at her sides, arms raised in the air and hands on her hips.
After the first section is completed, women should lie down on a flat surface. Previous breast self-examination guides suggested that women do this step in the shower, but the study suggested that a prone position is better, as it spreads the breast tissue more evenly. One arm is raised above the head and the opposite arm is crossed across the torso. Using the pads of the three middle fingers of this arm, the woman makes small overlapping circles from the collarbone to the underside of the breast and up to the armpit.
These small circles will reveal abnormalities in the tissue such as lumps. All breasts have some lumps and bumps, so it helps to familiarize yourself with your own lumps. It is also important to use variable pressure, examining the superficial, middle and deep layers of the breast. If an unusual lump is identified, a doctor can advise on the next step.
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