Breast Self-Examination: How to Perform & What to Look For?

By Dr. Piyusha Kulshrestha in Cancer

Nov 23, 2022

Breast Self-Examination: How to Perform & What to Look For?

Breast cancer is the deadliest and most prevalent cancer for women. In 2020, 685 000 deaths occurred globally due to breast cancer, while more than 7 million women were diagnosed with the disease. The statistics may be disturbing, but the good news is that breast cancer patients have a survival rate of over 90%, given that the cancer is detected early.

Therefore, doctors recommend regular screenings and tests among women, especially those with high-risk factors, to ensure that the cancer is caught early.

What is Breast Self examination?

Breast self-examination involves physically checking one’s breasts for changes or lumps. Following a systematic method to examine your breasts using both visual observation and manual palpation can help detect any new changes.

What to Assess during a Breast Self-Examination?

During a breast self-examination, women are advised to look for a recent change in appearance or any new lump. These changes include:

• Inverted nipples
• Any changes in appearance such as puckering, dimpling, size, shape, or symmetry should be noted.
•        Discharge from either breast. The discharge could be clear, milky, yellow or even bloody)
• Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling
• Any additional change should be discussed with a doctor

How to Perform Breast Self-Examination: Step-by-Step Process

You can perform a breast-self examination in five simple steps:

• Stand in front of the mirror shirtless. Keep your hands on your hips. Visually examine your breasts with your shoulders straight and arms on your hips. Look for any visible changes in appearance.
• Raise both arms above your head and continue to look for any abnormalities in the appearance.
• Next, examine the nipple to detect any unusual discharge,
• Following that, lie down on a flat surface. You will examine your breast using your hands now. Keep your fingers flat and examine the entire breast using a circular motion. Use your right hand to examine your left breast while keeping your left arm raised, so the elbow rests on your forehead. Do the same on the opposite side. Be sure to cover the entire breast. Use pressure to ensure you can feel every part of the breast till the deepest tissue. When you reach the deepest part, you should be able to feel your rib cage.
• Examine the breast with your hands while sitting and standing, and look for any solid mass or lump. You can do this in the shower, as examining wet and slippery breasts is easier.

You should repeat this process monthly.

Are Breast Self-Examinations Useful in Detecting Breast Cancers?

Based on studies suggesting limited effectiveness in early cancer detection, the American Cancer Society no longer recommends breast self-examination as a screening tool for women  who are at average risk of breast cancer. There has always been a debate among doctors about whether breast self-examination is an effective cancer detection tool. 

However, regular performance of breast self-examination, combined with routine checkups and screenings by a doctor, can enhance its effectiveness. Also, it is a no-cost screening tool; therefore, all women must know how to perform a breast-self exam.

When to Perform a Breast Self-Examination? 

Breast self-examination must be performed at least once every month. Post-menopausal women can choose any date to perform a self-exam. Menstruating women should conduct a breast self-examination monthly, ideally after their periods end.

What to do if you Feel a Lump During Breast Self-Examination?

If you notice a lump or any new change in your breast, remain calm. Most women have lumpy breasts, and most lumps are benign. However, be sure to schedule an appointment with your doctor. Let the doctor perform a breast exam and any other screening he deems necessary. 

How does a doctor detect Breast Cancer?

Breast cancer can be detected through a combination of physical exams, breast screenings, ultrasounds, and diagnostic biopsies. Common procedures include the following:

Physical Breast Exam: In a physical exam, the doctor essentially checks for lumps and abnormalities in the breast & the lymph nodes in the armpit.

Mammograms : Mammograms are the primary tool for detecting breast cancer, involving X-rays of the breast. If an abnormality is detected, additional evaluation through diagnostic mammograms and other tests is necessary to confirm whether the findings indicate breast cancer.

Ultrasound: Ultrasound is used when a lump is detected on a mammogram to distinguish whether it is a solid mass or a fluid-filled cyst.

Breast Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI): MRIs are also common screening procedures that help create pictures of the breast’s interior. 

Biopsy: Doctors will finally need to examine the tissue from the suspicious area in a laboratory to diagnose breast cancer. Tissue from the area is removed through a needle and sent for lab testing to determine if the cells are cancerous.

Conclusion

Knowing every inch of your breast & what is normal to them and performing regular self-examination can help identify any new changes. However, this should be a part of more complete regular breast checkups at the doctor as self-examination may not be effective in identifying early cancers.