According to the American Cancer Society’s most recent estimates, more than 230,480 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in 2011 resulting in approximately 39, 520 deaths. But each year, as women become more aware of the importance of self exams and annual screenings with their doctors, the death toll continues to decrease. In order to continue this trend, it is important that—as women—we remain vigilant when it comes to breast health. Therefore, in honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, here are the steps for performing a breast self exam.
1.) Lie down on your back. Breast self exams should always be performed in this position, as it enables the breast tissue to spread out evenly throughout the chest wall. This is important because when the breast tissue is spread out, it is the thinnest allowing you to feel all of the breast tissue.
2.) Using the pads of your three middle fingers on your left hand, feel for lumps in your right breast. The best method of doing this, as prescribed by the American Cancer Society, is to make dime-sized circular motions with your finger pads.
3.) Use three levels of pressure to feel all of your breast tissue. Use light pressure to examine the tissue closest to the skin, medium pressure to examine tissue that is a little deeper, and firm pressure to examine the tissue closest to your chest and ribs. Warning! It is normal to feel a firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast!
4.) Examine the entire breast. Using an up-and-down pattern, examine your entire breast from collarbone to ribcage moving across the breast to the sternum.
5.) Repeat. Repeat on your left breast.
6.) Stand in front of a mirror with your hands pressed firmly on your hips and examine your breasts for changes in shape, size, contour, and dimpling. This position forces the muscles in your chest wall to contract, enhancing any changes.
7.) Examine your underarms. To do this, you should be in the sitting or standing position with your arm only slightly raised. If you raise your arm too high, the muscles will contract making it harder to feel all of the tissue.
By following these steps and performing a breast self exam on a monthly basis, you will help protect yourself and family from having to deal with the hardships of breast cancer.
Have you ever performed a breast self exam?
