Breast Cancer Awareness: How to Do a Self-Breast Exam and What to Look For

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, and early detection is key to treatment and survival. Performing breast self-exams should therefore be an important part of breast cancer prevention, and all women are encouraged to perform them at least once a month.

Although breast cancer is most commonly associated with women, it is important to remember that men can also be affected by the disease. In fact, according to the American Cancer Society, about 1 in 8 women in the United States will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in their lives, while about 1 in 1,000 men will receive a similar diagnosis.

Here are steps you can take to lower your risk and catch breast cancer early.

How often should I be checking?‍

The American Cancer Society recommends that women perform a self-breast exam once a month. The best time to do this is a week or so after your period ends. This is because your breasts are usually less tender during this time. If you no longer have periods, choose a day that’s easy for you to remember and stick with it. You may want to set a monthly reminder on your phone or mark it in your calendar. The easiest way to remember is to do it right after you shower.

Men and trans men who have a family history of male breast cancer are particularly at risk and should consult with their doctor about how often they should perform self-exams. It is therefore important for all people, regardless of gender, to be aware of their breasts or chest tissue and to perform self-exams on a regular basis. By increasing awareness and being self-aware of your body is a key part of taking control of your own health.

How to do a self-breast exam?

You can do a self-breast exam in the shower, in front of a mirror or while lying down—whatever is comfortable for you. If you're doing it in the shower, use your soapy hands to feel for lumps or changes. If you're doing it in front of a mirror, raise your arms and press down on your breasts with your palms so that you can see them better. Be sure to feel both the upper and lower halves of your breasts, as well as your armpits. Using different amounts of pressure, feel all around your breasts in a circular pattern until you have covered the entire area thoroughly.

When you're feeling for lumps, you're looking for anything that feels different than the rest of your breast tissue. Lumps can be small or large, hard or soft. They might even be moveable. Look for anything that seems different from last time, such as swelling, redness, or changes in shape or size.

What are the warning signs I should be looking out for?

There are several warning signs that may indicate breast cancer, so it’s important to be familiar with them. In addition to feeling a lump, you should also look out for changes in breast size or shape, changes to the skin on your breasts (such as redness, dimpling, itching or burning), fluid coming from your nipple (other than breastmilk), inverted nipples (when they turn inward instead of pointing outward), and any persistent pain in your breasts. If you notice any of these changes, do make an appointment with your doctor right away.

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‍If you find something...don't panic!

Finding something during a self breast exam doesn't necessarily mean that you have cancer. In fact, most lumps are benign (non-cancerous). However, if you find something that feels different than everything else or if you notice any changes in your breasts, it's important to make an appointment with your doctor right away so that they can check it out and put your mind at ease.

In addition to doing regular self breast exams at home, you should also get annual mammograms starting at age 45 (or sooner if you have a family history of breast cancer). Mammograms are low-dose x-rays that can detect changes in breast tissue before they can be felt by hand. This means that mammograms can help catch cancer at an earlier stage when it is most treatable.

By taking these precautions, you will be better equipped to catch any signs of breast cancer early and get treatment quickly if necessary.

Have you had your mammogram this year?

Though no one likes to think about it, breast cancer is a very real danger for women and men of all ages. If you find anything unusual during your self-breast exam, don’t hesitate to make an appointment with your doctor or healthcare provider, and try to implement an annual mammogram as part of your health care screening.

To keep screenings organized – mammogram results can be uploaded to Jonda, which let’s you store and track your health securely in one place. This way, you will always have your screenings available when you need them, because taking charge of your own health information is one of the most important things you can do for your health.

Remember, early detection is key!