Signs of Breast Cancer
Checking for Signs of Breast Cancer
Doctors now advise women to begin examining themselves for signs of breast cancer from the age of twenty. Making a self examination part of your regular routine each month could help you to detect the early signs of breast cancer which increases your chances of effective breast cancer treatment and cure.
There are a number of different methods of checking yourself for the signs of breast cancer, but you should check your breasts both visually and physically, and try to do this whilst standing up and lying down.
Here are a few of the more common methods of checking for the signs of breast cancer:
Visual check for signs of breast cancer using a mirror
Using a mirror will help you to spot any of the visual signs of breast cancer. Stand facing the mirror, with your arms hanging by your sides, and look at your breasts to see if you can see any alteration in the size or shape of your breasts. Particular signs of breast cancer to look out for include dimpling or puckering of the skin, and sunken or inverted nipples.
Once you have checked your breasts in this position, put your hands on your hips, and check again. Finally, raise your hands over your head and press your hands together for the final check for visual signs of breast cancer.
Physical check for signs of breast cancer lying down
To check your right breast, lie down on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder, and raise your right arm above your head. There are a couple of methods you can use to check your breast with your left hand; try them all to find which one works best for you:
The clock method [checking for signs of breast cancer]
Imagine your breast is the face of a clock, and use the middle three fingers of your left hand to massage your breast at the twelve o’clock position, checking for any lumps or changes in breast tissue. Move around the breast hour by hour, and then move closer your hand closer to the nipple and repeat the process. Pinch your breast gently at twelve, three, six and nine o’clock to check for any nipple discharge.
The wedge method [checking for signs of breast cancer]
For the wedge method, imagine your breast divided up into six equal pieces, or wedges, in the same way you might cut a cake. Using the three middle fingers of your left hand again, massage from the edge of each wedge in towards the nipple, checking for signs of breast cancer.
Whichever method you use to check for signs of breast cancer in your actual breasts, be sure to feel around your collar bone and armpits for any lumps or changes as well. If you have larger breasts, try a walking motion with your fingers rather than a massaging motion to detect any lumps more easily.
Get into the habit of checking for signs of breast cancer
Once you have checked your right breast, you can change position and repeat the process for your left breast. If possible try to do an additional check, using the same method, while you are standing up. The best time to do this might be whilst taking a shower. This may sound time consuming, but done once a month, perhaps just after your period, it can be a very effective way to recognise the early signs of breast cancer.
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