To all of you ladies and girls out there, you need to play with your boobies at least once a month. It may save your life. This is the main way to find out if you have any lumps that may be breast cancer. If you do find any lumps, go to your doctor. The doctor will most likely send you for a mammogram. If the doctor doesn’t think that the lumps are anything to be alarmed about, then you have a starting point to compare from month to month, just what your breasts are like and whether or not they have had any changes in them. It is always better to err on the side of caution and be wrong about there being a problem, than to ignore the lumps and not do anything when you actually do have breast cancer.
I Googled breast self examination, and found pictures on how to properly one. Breast cancer awareness is very important to me. My Grandmother died from it and my Mother is a survivor of it. I, myself have Fibrocystic disease in both breasts. Needless to say, I get a mammogram every year. The URL is http://www.breastcancer.org/pictures
I have copied the article and the pictures as well. They are both pasted below.
Image – 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 become inverted (pushed inward instead of sticking out).
- Redness, soreness, rash, or swelling. Image – Breast Self-Exam – Steps 2 and 3
Raise your arms and look for the same changes.
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).
Image – Breast Self-Exam – Step 4
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 fingers of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.
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.
Image – Breast Self-Exam – 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.
What are the Signs of Breast Cancer?
Question: I’m worried I might have breast cancer. What are the signs?
Answer: Often there are no outward signs of breast cancer that you can see or feel. If there are outward signs, the more common ones include a lump, an area of thickening, or a dimple in the breast. Less common signs include breast swelling and redness or an enlarged underarm lymph node.
But even if you have one or more of these signs, it still doesn’t mean you have breast cancer. Remember that most breast lumps turn out to be benign (not cancerous).
Still, it’s extremely important that you SEE YOUR DOCTOR RIGHT AWAY if you’re worried that you might have breast cancer. Having your doctor take a look will ease your worry, and if anything is found, you’ll be able to take care of it quickly.
Physical examination of the breast is one way to find breast cancer.
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http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/WarningSigns.html
Warning Signs of Breast Cancer
Due to the use of regular mammography screening, most breast cancers in the U.S. are found at an early stage, before signs appear. However, not all breast cancers are found through mammography.
The warning signs of breast cancer are not the same for all women. The most common signs are a change in the look or feel of the breast, a change in the look or feel of the nipple and nipple discharge.
If you have any of the warning signs described below, see a health care provider [8-10]. If you do not have a provider, one of the best ways to find a good one is to get a referral from a trusted family member or friend. If that is not an option, call your health department, a clinic or a nearby hospital.
In most cases, these changes are not cancer. For example, breast pain is more common with benign breast conditions than with breast cancer. However, the only way to know for sure is to see a provider. If you have breast cancer, it is best to find it at an early stage, when the chances of survival are highest.
Breast lumps or lumpiness
Many women may find that their breasts feel lumpy. Breast tissue naturally has a bumpy texture. Some women have more lumpiness in their breasts than others. In most cases, this lumpiness is no cause to worry.
If the lumpiness can be felt throughout the breast and feels like your other breast, then it is probably normal breast tissue.
Lumps that feel harder or different from the rest of the breast (or the other breast) or that feel like a change are a concern and should be checked. This type of lump may be a sign of breast cancer or a benign breast condition (such as a cyst or fibroadenoma). Learn more about benign breast conditions.
See a health care provider if you:
- Find a new lump (or any change) that feels different from the rest of your breast
- Find a new lump (or any change) that feels different from your other breast
- Feel something that is different from what you felt before
It is best to see a provider if you are unsure about a new lump (or any change). Although a lump (or any change) may be nothing to worry about, you will have the peace of mind that it was checked.
If you have had a benign lump in the past, don’t assume a new lump will be the same. The new lump may not be breast cancer, but it is best to make sure.
Nipple discharge
Liquid leaking from your nipple (nipple discharge) can be troubling, but it is rarely a sign of breast cancer. Discharge can be your body’s natural reaction when the nipple is squeezed.
Signs of a more serious condition (such as breast cancer) include discharge that:
- Occurs without squeezing the nipple
- Occurs in only one breast
- Is bloody or clear (not milky)
Nipple discharge can also be caused by an infection or other condition that needs treatment. If you have any nipple discharge, see a health care provider.
– See more at: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/WarningSigns.html#sthash.kPg8tw4H.dpuf
