Breast Self Exam - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

maleficent · 09-04-2004, 03:07 PM

Breast Self Examination

A Simple Routine That Could Save Your Life

Most breast lumps are discovered by women themselves. Although the majority of lumps are non-cancerous, early detection saves lives. Premenopausal women should examine their breasts the week following menstruation each month when the breast are the least swollen and tender. Women who no longer menstruate can pick one day of each month for self-examination.

Step 1. While standing in front of a mirror, with your hands on your hips, visually examine your breasts. Look for lumps, changes in size, color, shape or contour. Look for dimples or puckering. Are your nipples normally inverted? If not, look to see if they are pushed in.
Step 2. Repeat this portion of the examination with your hands behind your head.
Step 3. Next, press each nipple, checking for discharge.
Step 4. Lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder and place your left hand under your head. With the fingers of your right hand flattened and together, press the top portion of the left breast. Using circular motions, feel for lumps and thickening. In other words, think of your breast as the face of a clock. With the top of the breast as 12 o'clock, move around the outer portion of the breast clockwise. Once you have returned to 12, move the fingers closer to the nipple and repeat. Seventy-five percent of breast cancer occurs under the nipple-areola region or in the upper, outer portion of the breast near the armpit, so make sure you thoroughly examine these areas.
Step 5. Once you have checked the entire surface of the left breast, move the pillow and examine the right breast with the left hand.
Step 6. Using the same small, circular motions examine the area adjacent to your breast in the armpit. This area also contains breast tissue. (Note: A breast self-exam can also be performed during a shower or bath.)
Step 7. If you detect thickening or a lump, contact your doctor immediately. Most lumps are benign, but only a doctor can determine that for sure.

By performing a breast self-exam every month, you will become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel. This will help make abnormalities easier to detect.
<hr>
I was looking for something else, and came across this and thought I'd share...

To relate a topic to this, do you do regular breast self exams? If no, why not?

*Nikki* · 09-04-2004, 04:21 PM

That is WAY more indepth then the exam the doctor does on me. Maybe it is just that they know what they are looking for and they don't have to look as hard. No, I don't do exams. I just kinda leave it up to the doc once a year. I guess that is bad.

combatmedicjen · 09-04-2004, 08:51 PM

Cam will do your exam for you!!!

Seriously, breast self-exams are very important the older you get. Especially if breast cancer runs in your family, as it does in mine. I do the self-exam every once in a while. Hubby does it for me the rest of the time

Hash_Browns · 09-04-2004, 08:58 PM

Thanks Mal, this is a very cool thing to have! I do them probibly once a month. I would also guess, as a person, I know my breasts better then anyone, and would be able to pick up any differences before a doctor who isn't as "close" to them as I am. Hence why I do them at least once a month.

ShaniFaye · 06-02-2009, 11:03 AM

this is very good information for us.....so Im bumping up

question for you girls with S/O's...do you let them do it for you (and I mean in a serious way)

Dave has always been good about making sure this gets done on me, before my reduction is was hard for me to do it myself I always felt stuff that wasnt there lol

creepysusie · 06-05-2009, 11:45 PM

Wow!
I didn't know that it was that thorough
Thank you for posting that!

09-04-2004, 03:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
maleficent Junkie Moderator Emeritus Location: Chicago	Breast Self Exam Breast Self Examination A Simple Routine That Could Save Your Life Most breast lumps are discovered by women themselves. Although the majority of lumps are non-cancerous, early detection saves lives. Premenopausal women should examine their breasts the week following menstruation each month when the breast are the least swollen and tender. Women who no longer menstruate can pick one day of each month for self-examination. Step 1. While standing in front of a mirror, with your hands on your hips, visually examine your breasts. Look for lumps, changes in size, color, shape or contour. Look for dimples or puckering. Are your nipples normally inverted? If not, look to see if they are pushed in. Step 2. Repeat this portion of the examination with your hands behind your head. Step 3. Next, press each nipple, checking for discharge. Step 4. Lie down with a pillow under your left shoulder and place your left hand under your head. With the fingers of your right hand flattened and together, press the top portion of the left breast. Using circular motions, feel for lumps and thickening. In other words, think of your breast as the face of a clock. With the top of the breast as 12 o'clock, move around the outer portion of the breast clockwise. Once you have returned to 12, move the fingers closer to the nipple and repeat. Seventy-five percent of breast cancer occurs under the nipple-areola region or in the upper, outer portion of the breast near the armpit, so make sure you thoroughly examine these areas. Step 5. Once you have checked the entire surface of the left breast, move the pillow and examine the right breast with the left hand. Step 6. Using the same small, circular motions examine the area adjacent to your breast in the armpit. This area also contains breast tissue. (Note: A breast self-exam can also be performed during a shower or bath.) Step 7. If you detect thickening or a lump, contact your doctor immediately. Most lumps are benign, but only a doctor can determine that for sure. By performing a breast self-exam every month, you will become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel. This will help make abnormalities easier to detect. <hr> I was looking for something else, and came across this and thought I'd share... To relate a topic to this, do you do regular breast self exams? If no, why not? __________________ Free your heart from hatred. Free your mind from worries. Live simply. Give more. Expect less.

09-04-2004, 08:58 PM	#4 (permalink)
Hash_Browns Psycho Location: Right behind you...BOO!	Thanks Mal, this is a very cool thing to have! I do them probibly once a month. I would also guess, as a person, I know my breasts better then anyone, and would be able to pick up any differences before a doctor who isn't as "close" to them as I am. Hence why I do them at least once a month. __________________ Smile It makes people wonder what you're up too!

06-02-2009, 11:03 AM	#5 (permalink)
ShaniFaye Submit to me, you know you want to Location: Lilburn, Ga	this is very good information for us.....so Im bumping up question for you girls with S/O's...do you let them do it for you (and I mean in a serious way) Dave has always been good about making sure this gets done on me, before my reduction is was hard for me to do it myself I always felt stuff that wasnt there lol __________________ *I want the diabetic plan that comes with rollover carbs. I dont like the unused one expiring at midnite!!*

09-04-2004, 04:21 PM	#2 (permalink)
Nikki ~~~~~~~ Location: Charleston, SC	That is WAY more indepth then the exam the doctor does on me. Maybe it is just that they know what they are looking for and they don't have to look as hard. No, I don't do exams. I just kinda leave it up to the doc once a year. I guess that is bad.

09-04-2004, 08:51 PM	#3 (permalink)
combatmedicjen Banned	Cam will do your exam for you!!! Seriously, breast self-exams are very important the older you get. Especially if breast cancer runs in your family, as it does in mine. I do the self-exam every once in a while. Hubby does it for me the rest of the time

06-05-2009, 11:45 PM	#6 (permalink)
creepysusie Tilted	Wow! I didn't know that it was that thorough Thank you for posting that!