Step
1: Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror
with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips.
Here's what you should look
for:
* breasts that are their usual size, shape and color.
* breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion
or swelling
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to
your doctor's attention:
* dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin.
* a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple
(pushed
inward instead of sticking out).
* redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.
Step
2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
Step 3: While you're at
the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger
and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be
a milky or yellow fluid or blood).
Step 4: Next, feel your
breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel
your left breast. Use firm, smooth touch with the first
few fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side
from your collarboan to the top of your abdomen, and from
your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast.
You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger
cirlces until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You
can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows,
as if you were mowing a lawn. Be sure to feel all the breast
tissue: just beneath your skin with a soft touch and down
deeper with a firmer touch. Begin examining each area with
a very soft touch, and then increase pressure so that you
can feels the deeper tissue, down to your ribcage.
Step 5: Finally, feel your
breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many woman find
that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their
skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in
the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand
movements described in Step 4.
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