October is the month dedicated to breast cancer awareness, and while nearly three quarters of Australian women believe they are breast aware, only 16% have the appropriate knowledge and skills to actually identify changes in their breasts. One of the key aspects of understanding your risk, is knowing how to self-examine your breasts, what to look out for, and when to seek help.
So, here’s a simple run down of how you should examine your breasts.
Firstly, we recommend women check their breasts at least once a month. It is recommended to start off doing it at different stages in your menstrual cycle, so you can understand the normal hormonal changes that can occur in your breasts throughout your cycle. Then, once you feel comfortable, start checking them once a month at the same time of your cycle. For post-menopausal women, this isn’t such an issue, so you may want to just pick a date each month and pop a reminder in your diary or calendar.
Now, there are 3 basics steps when it comes to an examination – look, lift and feel.
1. Look
Start by placing your hands at your sides and looking at your breasts in the mirror.
The main things you are looking for are:
Look at each breast individually, then look at them together to note any asymmetry.
2. Lift
Next, put your hands on your hips, push your shoulders forward to flex your chest muscles. Then raise your hands over your head, before finally lifting one hand up and place it behind your head (repeating with each side). With each of these movements, look in the mirror to note any of the above listed changes.
3. Feel
Using the pads on your fingers of your opposite hand, use small, circular movements to FEEL the breast. At first, feel lightly, checking for anything near the surface. Repeat, this time press firmly, feeling for anything deeper. There’s no right or wrong place to start, just be consistent, making sure to check the entire breast including the nipple and all the way up to your collarbone and out to the armpit.
If you’ve read all of this and still feel confused, you can book in to your GP for a breast examination. Ask your doctor to talk you through what they’re doing which might make it easier for you to replicate at home.
And remember, all women in Australia aged 40-74 are eligible for a Medicare funded mammogram, yet only about half of women actually do this as recommended. So now is the perfect time to book in your appointment if you haven’t had yours.