How to Check for Breast Cancer At Home

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The presence of breast cancer is, in most ways, a stark contrast to treatments and recoveries if caught at an early age. Going regularly for checkups is a necessary aspect, but what is also imperative is knowing how to check up on your breasts from home personally. Therefore, this guideline will illustrate how one correctly checks the breast and what to look for.

Why Is It Important to Examine Your Breasts at Home?

Breast examination done at home is known as BSE. It is worth doing in order to pay more attention to changes in their look and texture. The longer you check, the better you learn what’s usual for your breasts. This usually makes it easier to notice when something changes. It feels like knowing one’s favorite T-shirt so that you would surely notice if suddenly there was an unfamiliar stain or tear.

Women themselves first find most breast cancers as they go through their usual, everyday routines-bathing, dressing, etc. It does not mean that whatever change you come across is cancer-most changes have nothing to do with cancer in the first place. But it is then much more likely you will find and report your new changes when your doctor might detect cancer at its earliest and smallest-and easiest-to-cure size.

How often do you check your breasts?

It is also essential to check for breast self-exams. Check a week after the beginning of your period when your breasts are less likely to be swollen or tender. If you no longer have periods, choose a particular day every month, for example, the first day, and keep doing it on that day.

For younger women, breasts may feel different at different times of the month. That’s normal. That’s why doing your checks simultaneously each month is a good idea: you’ll compare apples to apples.

What should I look for?

Here are the main changes to watch for in your breasts:

Visual Changes (what you can see):

  1. A new lump or swelling in the breast or armpit
  2. Change in breast size or shape
  3. Skin feels different: dimpled, puckered, bulged
  4. The nipple has changed position
  5. Fluid drainage from the nipple, incredibly bloody
  6. Redness, tenderness, rash, swelling
  7. Skin may feel orange-peel
  8. Lump or knot in breast or under arm
  9. Continued and unusual breast pain
  10. Area feels hard
  11. Area of the breast which is thickened
  12. Part of the breast that is swollen
  13. Change in breast texture
  14. Warmth or tenderness in one area
  15. Pain in your armpit

How do you inspect your breasts correctly, step by step?

Inspecting your breasts is a combination of looking and feeling. Let’s break this down into simple steps.

  • Begin by observing: Stand in front of a clear mirror with good lighting. Take a look at your breasts when your arms are by your sides. Lift your arms way up towards your head now. Then, put your hands on your hips and press against your body so your chest muscles contract. Keep an eye open for any noticeable changes listed above.
  • This introduces the sensation. You can do this lying down or standing in the shower. Lying is easier since the tissue expands evenly across the chest wall. You should feel the tissue of your breast with the pads of your three middle fingers.
  • In the pattern, you start at the collarbone, then move down and go below your breast, cross over, and return upwards all the way along until you get the whole area of your breast. Remember the armpit area.
  • Use varying pressure: Light pressure to feel the tissue nearest to the skin. For example, use medium pressure to feel a little deeper. And, use firm pressure so that you can feel the tissue closest to your chest wall and ribs. Some areas will naturally be lumpy; that is fine.

What does a typical breast feel like?

Knowing what is normal helps to identify what is not. Your breasts are built to have some variation in texture in certain areas. It is expected to experience a lumpy oatmeal quality in the outer regions, tiny beads or bumps in the tissue under the areola, and rope-like structures near your armpit.

Remember that breasts often don’t match and might be larger or sit differently than the other. This is entirely normal. What’s important is noticing changes from what’s normal for you.

What should you do if you find something unusual?

Do not panic first. Breast changes are not usually caused by cancer, but it would not be inadvisable to seek the advice of a health professional if there is. Explain to them what you have observed to have changed, where this change has been noticed, when it was first noted, and whether or not any further changes were observed.

Call your doctor and get an appointment. Be prepared to describe exactly what you have found. Your doctor may suggest some additional testing, like mammography or ultrasound. By this, they can determine the nature of the change.

How often should one examine their breasts?

The vast majority of doctors encourage yearly and monthly professional exams. However, they also instruct patients to practice breast self-awareness every day by paying attention to how their breasts look and feel usually. Get used to knowing what your breasts typically look like—look at how they appear during your morning shower.

Remember that breast self-exams are one part of keeping your breasts healthy. They cannot replace a mammogram or the clinical breast exams done by your healthcare provider. Different types of checks work together to help find breast cancer early.

Are there any common myths about breast self-exams?

Yes! There exist a few of them; let’s bust some myths here. It is believed that breast examination should be done only by older women. The truth, however, is that breast cancer occurs more frequently among older women, but it in no way is limited to them. Therefore, the self-exams should be initiated in your 20s.

The other myth is that finding a lump means you have cancer. Most of the breast lumps are not really cancerous. They could be cysts, harmless growths, or normal breast tissue that feels lumpy.

People often fear they are doing it wrong. Of course, there are some technical approaches to assist, but becoming familiar with the physical feel of your breasts and paying attention to changes are crucial. There’s no such thing as doing it “wrong.”

How can you make self-breast exams a habit?

Here are a few suggestions about how to remind yourself to check each month:

  • It is better to mark it on your calendar or schedule a cell phone reminder. Find a day of the month that is simple to remember. For example, you can select the first day of every month.
  • Link it to something you do habitually, such as changing your bed sheets or paying bills.
  • Make a note to remind you in the bathroom and bedroom.
  • Try to find a reminder buddy in one of your closest friends or relatives—you could remind each other to do the checks every month.

Conclusion

After all, taking good care of your breast health is simply a part of taking good care of yourself. Self-exams and proper medical care may give you the best chance of finding any problems early. So don’t be embarrassed or afraid to check your breasts or to speak with your doctor about changes you notice. Your health is worth it.

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