Breast Self Examination

 

 

Why It Is Done

 

A breast self-examination is done to detect breast problems, such as a lump or change in appearance, that may indicate breast cancer or other breast conditions that may require medical attention (such as mastitis or a fibroadenoma).

 

Breast Carcinoma or breast cancer is the most commonly occurring cancer in middle-aged women. The breasts are specialized accessory glands of the skin consisting of ducts embedded in fatty tissue. Breast cancer can arise in the duct system anywhere from the nipple to the terminal lobule.

 

Most often, the cancer is detected after it has spread to the other parts of the body. Breast self-exam should be part of your monthly health care routine, and you should visit your doctor if you experience breast changes. If you're over 40 or at a high risk for the disease, you should also have an annual mammogram and physical exam by a doctor. The earlier breast cancer is found and diagnosed, the better your chances of beating it.

 

How It Is Done

 

Breast Self Exam Test: . The breast self-exam should be done regularly every month immediately following the menstrual cycle. Step 1- Visual Inspection Look for any changes in the skin over breast like redness, swelling or puckering and nipple changes like discharge, scaling or indentation. Step 2 - Tactile Inspection There are three ways to physically examine the breasts. The Circle method The Line method, and The wedge method The Circle Method: Move the three middle fingers in a circular fashion starting from the outer edge of the breast towards the nipple. The Line Method: Move the three middle fingers starting from underarm area down below the breast. Move slowly back upwards. Repeat this until the entire breast is felt. Wedge method: Move the three middle fingers beginning at the outer edge towards the nipple. Repeat the procedure for every wedge until the entire breast is felt. Regardless of the method, the objective is to feel the entire breast and observing any abnormal changes. The breast should be soft and smooth to the touch. Pay special attention to check the underarm and upper chest areas. Feel the entire breast Breast should be soft and smooth. Observe for abnormal changes. Check under arm and upper chest areas.

 

It takes practice to perform a thorough breast self-examination.

 

If you find anything that concerns you, schedule a visit with your health professional. The important thing is to learn what is normal for you and to report any changes to your health professional. Remember that most changes you find are not breast cancer but should be checked. These changes may include:

 

Any new lump. It may or may not be painful to touch.
Unusual thick areas.
Sticky or bloody discharge from your nipples.
Any changes in the skin of your breasts or nipples, such as puckering or dimpling.
An unusual increase in the size of one breast.
One breast unusually lower than the other.

 

In addition to examining your breasts while lying down, you may also check them while in the shower. Soapy fingers slide easily across the breast and may increase your chances of detecting a change. While standing in a shower, place one arm over your head and lightly soap your breast on that side. Then, using the flat surface of your fingers—not the fingertips—gently move your hand over your breast (in the strip pattern described above), feeling carefully for any lumps or thickened areas.

 

How It Feels

 

A breast self-examination normally does not cause any discomfort. If your breasts are tender because your menstrual period is about to begin, a BSE may cause slight discomfort when you press on your breasts to feel for lumps.

 

Risks

 

The risk of doing breast self-examination is that you find a breast change that makes you anxious and may lead to a biopsy but turns out not to be cancer.

 

Results

 

A breast self-examination (BSE) involves checking your breasts to help detect breast problems or changes.

 

Breast self-examination (BSE)
Normal: It is important to know what your breasts normally look like and feel like so you can identify any changes as soon as possible. One breast is usually slightly larger than the other. You may find a ridge of firm tissue in the lower curve of the breast below the nipple. This is normal. You may also notice that your breasts change throughout your menstrual cycle, and you may notice increased swelling and tenderness before your period starts. Both breasts have a similar consistency and there are no new lumps since your last self-examination. You may have breasts that feel lumpy throughout. If both breasts feel this way, this is normal for you. You may be able to express a clear or milky discharge from your nipple. This may be due to nursing, breast stimulation, hormones, or some other normal cause. If you have small breasts, you may feel your rib as a firm mass through your breast tissue. If you follow the curve of firm tissue, you will be able to tell it's your rib and not a mass.		Abnormal: Abnormal changes are those that are unusual for you. The color or feel of your breast or nipple may change. This can include wrinkling, dimpling, thickening, or puckering or an area that feels thickened. A nipple which previously pointed out now points in (inverted). A red, scaly rash or sore may be found on the nipple. Nipple discharge is green or bloody. A new lump can be felt in breast tissue. Most lumps are pea-sized. If you find a lump, don't panic; 8 out of 10 lumps are not cancerous. A lump is most often caused by a cyst, a fibroadenoma, or generalized breast lumpiness (fibrocystic breast changes), none of which are cancerous.