Breast Self Awareness

What is Breast Self Awareness

Breast self awareness means:

  • Knowing how your breasts look.
  • Knowing how your breasts feel.
  • Checking your breasts every month for changes.
  • Telling your doctor if you notice a change in your breasts.

Breast self awareness allows you to notice a breast problem early while it is still small.

How to do a breast self examination

One way to learn what is normal for your breasts and to check for changes is to do a breast self-exam. To do a breast self-exam:

Look for Changes

  1. Take off all the clothes above your waist.
  2. Stand in front of a mirror in a room with good lighting.
  3. Put your hands on your hips.
  4. Push your hands down.
  5. Look at your breasts and nipples in the mirror to see if one breast or nipple looks different than the other. Check to see if:
    • The shape of one breast is different.
    • The size of one breast is different.
    • There are wrinkles, dips, and bumps in one breast and not the other.
  6. Look at each breast for changes in your skin, such as:
    • Redness.
    • Scaly areas.
  7. Look for changes in your nipples, such as:
    • Liquid around the nipples.
    • Bleeding.
    • Dimpling.
    • Redness.
    • A change in where the nipples are.

Feel for Changes

  1. Lie on your back on the floor.
  2. Feel each breast. To do this, follow these steps:
    • Pick a breast to feel.
    • Put the arm closest to that breast above your head.
    • Use your other arm to feel the nipple area of your breast. Feel the area with the pads of your three middle fingers by making small circles with your fingers. For the first circle, press lightly. For the second circle, press harder. For the third circle, press even harder.
    • Keep making circles with your fingers at the light, harder, and even harder pressures as you move down your breast. Stop when you feel your ribs.
    • Move your fingers a little toward the center of your body.
    • Start making circles with your fingers again, this time going up until you reach your collarbone.
    • Keep making up and down circles until you reach your armpit. Remember to keep using the three pressures.
    • Feel the other breast in the same way.
  3. Sit or stand in the shower or tub.
  4. With soapy water on your skin, feel each breast the same way you did in step 2, when you were lying on the floor.

Write Down What You Find

After doing the self-exam, write down:

  • What is normal for each breast.
  • Any changes you find in each breast.
  • When you last had your period.

How often should I check my breasts?

Check your breasts every month. If you are breastfeeding, the best time to check them is after you feed your baby or after you use a breast pump. If you get periods, the best time to check your breasts is 5–7 days after your period is over.

When should I see my doctor?

See your doctor if you notice:

  • A change in shape or size of your breasts or nipples.
  • A change in the skin of your breast or nipples, such as red or scaly skin.
  • Unusual fluid coming from your nipples.
  • A lump or thick area that was not there before.
  • Pain in your breasts.
  • Anything that concerns you.
15585

Sign up to receive the trending updates and tons of Health Tips

Join SeekhealthZ and never miss the latest health information

15856