Breast Self-Exam

Self Breast Exam

According to the American Cancer Society, “The most common symptom of Breast Cancer is a new lump or mass.”

Despite increased use of screening mammography, a large percentage of breast cancers are detected by women themselves. 

Approximately 50% of cases of breast cancer in women 50 years and older and 71% of cases of breast cancer in women younger than 50 years are detected by women themselves. Despite this information, most women are in denial about feeling their breasts for potential lumps. 

Most don’t know what to feel for and others just don’t want to go there.

Even if you are getting yearly exams, there are still 364 days of the year in which changes can occur. A significant number of women are present with palpable breast cancer even with a normal exam within 1 year.

According to the American Cancer Society, “women should be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and report any changes to a health care provider right away”.

So … if finding a lump is so important and finding it through touch is so effective, then it only makes sense that the better you are at it, the higher the chances are that you will find your lump sooner than later and smaller than bigger.


There are two critical components to a self breast exam. Only when you combine both, can you expect to achieve the most effective Breast Self-Exam. 

1. Your fingers must be taught what to feel for, what a suspicious lump might feel like. This can only be accomplished by palpating a tactually accurate breast model. It cannot be done by watching a video or reading a pamphlet.

2. The educated fingers must then be brought into contact with ALL of the breast tissue where an unhealthy lump might reside.

Would you rather find a lump the size of a ping-pong ball or the size of a pea?

When you come in for your SureTouch breast exam as the examiner to let you feel our “fake breast tissue sample” it has different types of lumps and can help you locate one if necessary.

Stay Healthy, 
Janice

The Five Steps of a Breast Self-Exam

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
Breast Self-Exam - Step 1Breast Self-Exam — Step 1
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Step 2: Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.Step 3: While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood). Breast Self-Exam - Steps 2 and 3Breast Self-Exam — Steps 2 and 3
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Step 4: Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast. Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together. Use a circular motion, about the size of a quarter.Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone 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 circles 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. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your ribcage. Breast Self-Exam - Step 4Breast Self-Exam — Step 4
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Step 5: Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women 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. Breast Self-Exam - Step 5Breast Self-Exam — Step 5
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(Article Excerpt and Image from Breastcancer.org)  – See more at: http://www.breastcancer.org/symptoms/testing/types/self_exam/bse_steps

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