BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION: THE ESSENTIALS

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BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION: THE ESSENTIALS





 Breast self-examination (BSE) helps individuals become familiar with the everyday appearance and texture of their breasts, making it easier to detect changes that may require further attention. Though there’s debate over whether BSE actually reduces breast cancer deaths, it’s still used as a breast awareness tool, especially in places where access to regular clinical exams or mammograms is limited [Journal of Clinical Women's Health; BMC Women's Health].

How to Perform a Breast Self-Examination

Best Timing:
If you menstruate, the ideal time for BSE is a few days after your period ends, when your breasts are less likely to be swollen or sore. Select the same date each month, don't try to track those who don’t menstruate to maintain consistency [PLOS ONE].

Visual Check:
Stand before a mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Look for changes in shape, size, skin texture, or the appearance of your nipples. Then, raise your arms and Cancer again for any differences [Cancer].

Feeling for Changes—Standing or Sitting:
Doing this in the shower is often easier, as wet skin lets your fingers glide smoothly. Use the pads of your three middle fingers to make small circles, covering the entire breast. Vary the light, medium, and deep pressure to feel all the layers.

Feeling for Changes—Lying Down:
Lie with a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Use your left hand to examine your right breast, then switch to the other side. Move in small circles over the whole breast and into the armpit area. Gently squeeze the nCancerto check for any discharge [Cancer].

Patterns to Cover the Whole Breast:
A specific pattern to ensure you don’t miss any areas. You can move your fingers up and down in vertical lines, make circles from the nipple out, or check in wedge-shaped sections radiating from the nipple [Annals of Internal Medicine].

What to Watch For:
Lumps, areas of thickening, hard knots, swelling, skin dimpling, nipple changes, or unusual discharge are all things to bring up with a healthcare provider.

What else have you changed? Cancer; anything new, persistent, or unusual deserves a physical exam and a review of your evidence. BSE'sevidence on BSE’s impact on breast cancer mortality is mixed, so many experts now recommend general breast awareness over rigid monthly exams [Journal of Clinical Nursing; CMAJ]. Education programs can help people do BSE more often and thoroughly, but skills may fade without ongoing guidance and retraining [American Journal of Public Health; Cancer].

In short, breast self-exam means checking your breasts regularly so you know what’s normal for you. This helps you identify changes, and it’s not a clinical examination that's available when that’s needed. Ongoing education and awareness are essential from breast exams from Women's Health [BMC Women's Health; PLOS ONE].

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