Check your breasts
If you know what’s normal for you it will be easier to find any changes in your breasts. Discovering breast cancer early will help the prognosis. Here are some tips before you begin. Don’t start looking for changes, just get to know how they feel. And remember most lumps are not cancer. Pain and tenderness are not usual symptoms for breast cancer. But more likely due to hormonal changes. Below we will show you how to examine your breasts in three simple steps. And remember that it is best to check your breast once a month.
Step 1.
Look in the mirror
Raise your arms over your head and look for any changes.
Are your breasts their usual shape?
Is the skin smooth and have its normal colour?
Do the nipples look ok, and do they follow upwards when raising your arms?
Step 2.
Check your breasts
Place one hand behind your head.
Check your left breast and armpit with your right hand and the other way around.
Straight fingers and light pressure. Small circular movements around the breast several times.
Start with the nipple. Move your fingers a centimeter at a time and go round the breast. Keep doing this until you have examined the whole breast. Finish at the armpit.
Step 3.
Lay down
Place your left hand under your head and check your left breast and armpit.
How does the breast feel?
Any lumps or induration?
Is the breast the same size as usual?
And the firmness as usual?