Breast Self-Examination: Worth Doing Right

Many women may not realize that the key to breast self-exams is how they’re done. Research shows that technique counts more than frequency or regularity of an exam.

Here is the correct way to check your breasts:

• Standing in front of a mirror, look for dimpling in the breasts or scaling of the skin. Look for anything unusual. According to one study in the Canadian Medical Association Journal, this step is one of the most important. Women who performed the visual exam were less likely to die from breast cancer than those who did not.



• Watching closely in the mirror, clasp your hands behind your head and press your elbows forward. Look for any changes in the shape or contour of your breasts.



• In the second part of the exam, lie flat on your back with a pillow beneath your left shoulder and place your left arm behind your head. Using the pads of three middle fingers on your right hand, explore your left breast firmly, carefully, and thoroughly. Press along the breast beginning at the outer edge, moving in circles and gradually working inward toward the nipple.
• Be sure to cover the entire breast. Next, check the area between the breast and underarm, as well as the underarm itself. Feel for any unusual lump or mass.
• Squeeze the nipple gently for any discharge and feel it for lumps.



• Repeat on the other side.

"If you are not sure if you are performing the examination correctly, speak with your health care provider," says R. Lance Dillon, M.D., dedicated breast care imager at The Breast Center of Ocean County at Ocean Medical Center. "They will walk you through all of the steps."

"Performing a breast self-exam is just one part of the process that a women should follow for good breast health," explains Dr. Dillon."Patients should also have an annual checkup and, if at any time they detect an abnormality or notice any changes, they should notify their health care provider."

Do You Need A Mammogram?

Getting regular mammograms might save your life or help you save a breast.

A mammogram is so sensitive that it can detect tumors as small as a centimeter. This allows doctors to diagnose breast cancer early, when it is most treatable.

The National Cancer Institute advises that women in their 40s and older get a mammogram every year or two. Women at a high risk for breast cancer because of their personal or family history may need earlier and more frequent screenings.