Breast Self Exam

Breast cancer is one of the most concerning diseases among women in the United States. A simple tool that can save a woman’s life is a breast self-examination done in the privacy of your own bathroom. Women of all ages are encouraged to perform a self-exam of their breasts at least once a month. This simple step can save your life.

According to Johns Hopkins Medical Center, 40% of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump. This high percentage reveals the importance of self-exams done on a regular basis. Regular breast self-exams help women to become very familiar with their breasts so that you will be aware if there are any changes. Any changes should be brought to your OB-GYN’s attention immediately for further evaluation. It is essential to know that early detection and early intervention provide the highest success rate for treatment.

How to perform a breast self-exam:

1. In the shower, use the pads of your fingers to move around your entire breast in a circular pattern. Move from the outside to the center, as well as the armpit area to feel for any lump, thickening, or hardened knot. Pay attention to how your breasts feel so that you will notice any changes.
2. Look for changes in front of a mirror. Stand with your arms at your sides and look for changes in contour, swelling, changes in the nipples, or dimpling of the skin. Next, lift both arms above your head and look for the same things. Also, with your arms above your head, look to see if your breasts are uniform. While left and right breasts will not match exactly, they should be relatively uniform. Any changes, particularly on one side, need to be evaluated.
3. Lie down and evaluate your breasts. In a lying down position, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall, making it easy to feel for changes. Place your right arm behind your head, and use your left hand to gently move around your right breast in circular motions to detect any lumps, thickening, or hardened knots. Squeeze the nipple to check for discharge. Repeat these steps for the left breast by putting your left hand behind your head and using your right hand for the self-exam.

While this self-exam may be awkward at first, it is an exam that can save your life. At Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A., we are happy to walk you through a breast self-exam so that you feel comfortable at home. We want to promote breast self-exams because we understand how impactful they can be. Our entire practice is committed to mixing excellent medical care with sensitivity and compassion. We care about our patients, and we understand how important early detection is.