How Do I Find Breast Disease?
Print PageKnow what is normal for your breasts through monthly breast self-examinations (BSE). You can perform a BSE while standing in the shower, or reclining in bed with a pillow behind your shoulder, or in front of a mirror. Reclining propped on a pillow distributes the breast tissue most evenly, so it is easier to find small lumps. Soap and water reduce friction, making your fingers more sensitive. The mirror will show color changes, and side-lighting will show irregular texture. Use whichever position is easiest and most convenient for you.
Bend your left arm and cup the back of your head with your left hand. Gently feel your left breast with the pads of the three middle fingers on your right hand, using either a concentric circle or pie-wedge pattern. Feel the chest from the collarbone to the ribs just below your breasts. Include the breastbone and armpit, too. Go over each area again with medium pressure and then firm pressure. Switch sides. Look for prominent veins, drainage from the nipples, redness, bulges, white scales, pigment changes in moles, persistent sores, indentations, “orange peel” skin, flattening, inverted nipples or nipples pointing in a direction that is not usual for you. These could indicate tumor growth. Bend over a chair and let your breasts hang. If your breast contour is distorted and your breasts do not fall freely away from your torso, then a Cooper’s ligament could have a growth impinging on it. If you find an abnormality, remember that 9 out of 10 women will never develop breast cancer