Breast Self-Exam Steps

Follow these five simple steps for your monthly breast self-exams.

Breast self-examinations can be an important tool for the detection of breast cancer, especially when performed regularly and correctly. Make breast self-exams a monthly routine, and be sure to do your self-exams during the same time each month.

Step 1

Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Examine your breasts for the following:

Are my breasts their usual size, shape and color?
Are my breasts evenly shaped without distortion or swelling?
Is there dimpling, puckering or bulging of the skin?
Has either nipple changed position or become inverted?
Is there redness, soreness, rash or swelling?

If you notice any significant changes, ask your doctor if these are normal.

Step 2

Raise your arms and repeat all parts of Step 1.

Step 3

Examine each nipple for any signs of fluid including watery, milky or yellow fluid or blood.

Step 4

Next, feel your breasts while lying down. Use your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.

Cover the entire area of the breast from top to bottom, side to side from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast, or you can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows.

Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you've reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage.