Learn How to Perform Breast Self-Examinations

Chances are cancer will affect you or someone you know. Approximately 1 in 8 U.S. women will develop breast cancer during their lifetime. That is almost 200,000 new diagnoses of breast cancer each year in the U.S.

The encouraging news is that the sooner breast cancer is found and treated; the better the chances are for a full recovery. Therefore, it is important to get regular breast cancer screenings by your doctor. However, you too can be proactive and catch signs of breast cancer early by performing monthly self-check exams.

A monthly Breast Self-Exam (BSE) is an effective tool to help a woman become more familiar with what is normal for her and to help her detect breast cancer at an early and very curable stage. BSE includes looking at and feeling the breasts. Women should perform a BSE at least once a month to catch any abnormalities early. If there are any changes in the breasts, see a health care provider right away.

    Step 1: Lying down - feel for abnormalities

• Lie down on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder with your right arm extended above your head
• Use the pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to check your right breast
• Press using light, medium and firm pressure in a circle motion without lifting your fingers off the skin
• Follow an up and down pattern
• Feel for changes in your breast, above and below your collarbone and in your armpit
• Repeat on your left breast using your right hand

• Hold arms at your side
• Hold arms over your head
• Press your hands on your hips and tighten your chest muscles
• Bend forward with your hands on your hips

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4. Select Breast Cancer from the list of topics