Breast Self Examination - Definition, Steps, Image and Methods

Breast self-examination is a monthly check-up that women perform by themselves to check for any changes or breast lumps.

It is important because early detection of breast cancer can save lives. According to the American Cancer Society, if caught early, the five-year survival rate for breast cancer patients jumps from 88% to 99%.

The ideal time to do a breast self-examination is one week after your period ends. This is because your breasts are less likely to be swollen and tender during this time.

Breast self-examination is important to a woman’s health. The importance of breast self-examination is to familiarize women with their bodies so that they can recognise if something has changed. This early detection could save lives by allowing for earlier diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer or other issues that may arise from an abnormal finding during the examination.

The benefits of performing regular breast self-examination include:

1. Provide greater awareness about one's own body and can help detect potential problems before they become more serious or life-threatening.
2. Help identify possible signs and symptoms associated with abnormal findings in the breasts.
3. Help women understand what normal breast tissue looks and feels like.
4. Encourage early detection, which could lead to better outcomes for those who develop breast cancer or other abnormalities detected via BSE.
5. Reduce anxiety associated with not knowing what is ‘normal’ in terms of changes that occur as the woman age.
6. Increase confidence when speaking with healthcare professionals about one's health status regarding breasts. 

Breast self-examination involves inspection and palpation. The inspection involves visually examining your breasts for any changes in appearance, such as size, shape, or colour. Palpation involves feeling your breasts for any lumps or other abnormalities.

Most experts recommend that women perform inspection and palpation when performing a breast self-examination. 

Visual Inspection

A visual inspection is the first step in performing a breast self-examination. During a visual inspection, you will look at your breasts in the mirror to check for size, shape, or appearance changes. You will also look for new lumps, bumps, or skin texture changes.

To perform a visual inspection:

1. Stand with your shoulders relaxed and arms at your sides in front of a mirror.
2. Look at your breasts carefully, noting any size, shape, or appearance changes.
3. Pay special attention to the area around your nipples, as this is where most breast lumps or cancers develop. 
4. In addition to looking at your breasts in the mirror, you should also feel them for any lumps or other changes. 
5. To do this, use both hands to feel all around each breast. 
6. Start by using your fingertips. Move around the outside of the breast in a small circle. 
7. Slowly move inward until you reach the nipple area. Be sure to feel both the front and back sides of each breast.
8. If you find anything unusual during a visual inspection, you must consult with your doctor immediately. While most changes are not indicative of cancer, it's always best to get examined by a professional.

Manual Inspection

Manual breast self-examination (MBSE) is generally performed while lying down. However, doing an MBSE while standing up and inspecting under the shower is just as effective. Some experts believe standing up may be even more effective than lying down because gravity pulls the breast tissue down, making it easier to feel any lumps or abnormalities.

1. While standing: Stand in front of a mirror and, using the fingertips move around the breast.
2. While lying down: Choose a bed or a flat surface and lie down on your back. The breast tissues will spread out when lying down, making them thinner and easier to feel. 
3. While in the shower: To make your fingers glide over your skin more easily, soap up your fingers and breasts.

To begin, you will need to undress and stand in front of a mirror with arms at your sides. 

1. Next, look for any changes in the appearance of your breasts, such as dimpling, redness, or swelling. 
2. Once you have looked at your breasts closely in the mirror, raise your arms above your head and look for the same changes.
3. Then, using your fingers, feel for any lumps or unusual changes in texture. You should move your finger pads on the entire breast in a circular pattern moving from the outside towards the nipple. 
4. Be sure to also feel under your arms and around your collarbone area.

By following these steps and performing a breast self-examination every month, you can help ensure early detection of any changes or lumps in your breasts and potentially save your life.

Breast-self examination is an important diagnostic technique. However, some general points have also to be taken into consideration when doing a breast self-examination. Thinks that need to be kept in mind include the following:

1. Perform a breast self-exam regularly, such as once a month, to become familiar with your breast's normal shape and feel.
2. Ask your doctor for a demonstration of the breast examination so that you can ensure error-free detection of lumps. 
3. Choose a day each month when you can dedicate time for the exam, preferably three to five days after your menstrual cycle or on the same day if you no longer have periods. 
4. Use two different levels of pressure when examining your breasts: light pressure to feel the tissue close to your skin and medium pressure to examine deeper layers of breast tissue.
5. Examine both breasts thoroughly, feeling for lumps or any other abnormalities in the tissue; use circular motions around the entire breast area and under your armpit.
6. When done lying down, switch back to an upright position to check for any difference between how they look when standing up and when lying down; sometimes, things can become more obvious this way.
7. Check regularly for fluid discharge from either nipple, especially if blood is present since this will always require medical investigation.
8. Take note of any abnormalities and report them immediately to the doctor, together with a family medical history, including the mother’s history, who may have had previous cases before her death (if applicable).
9. Avoid performing Breast Self-Examination during the menstrual cycle as it might be uncomfortable due to tenderness associated with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). 
10. Don’t panic if you detect some abnormality like a painless mass/lump etc.; instead, immediately consult a doctor regarding the same without delay so that appropriate diagnosis and treatment can be initiated accordingly at the earliest possible time frame!

There are a few contraindications to breast self-examination that you should be aware of:

1. If you have had recent breast surgery, it is best to wait until your incisions have healed before performing self-exams.
2. If you have any open wounds or sores on your breasts, you should avoid self-exam until they have healed. If you are currently pregnant or breastfeeding, it is also generally advised to avoid self-breast exams. It is because the increased hormones during pregnancy can cause changes in the breasts, making it difficult to detect cancerous changes.
3. Breastfeeding can also cause changes in the breast tissue, making interpretation of self-exam results difficult.
4. If you have any history of breast cancer or are at high risk for developing it, you must consult with your doctor about the best way to perform breast self-exams and how often they should be performed.

If you find a lump during a self-exam, it doesn't necessarily mean you have cancer. However, having any lump checked out by a doctor is important. Other changes to look for during a self-exam include:

1. Dimpling or puckering of the skin
2. Nipple discharge
3. Redness or rash
4. A change in the size, contour or shape of the breast
5. A nipple that becomes inverted (turned inward) or discharged
6. Redness, scaliness, thickening, or soreness of the nipple or breast skin
7. Any new pain in one spot that doesn't go away

It is important to discuss the diagnosis of your breast examination with your doctor and to get them to assess the lump or any other change.

Breast self-examination is an integral part of any woman's health routine and can help to detect early signs of possible breast cancer. By familiarizing yourself with your own body, it will be easier to identify any changes that could indicate a health issue. So don't wait any longer; start doing regular breast self-examinations today! With the right tips and information, you can make sure that you are informed and able to take good care of your breasts.

HexaHealth experts provide advice and information about breast examination to help individuals stay informed and proactive regarding their health. We will connect you with specialists who will explain the importance of regular breast self-examination, how to do it correctly, and the potential risks associated with not performing these examinations. 

Furthermore, they will discuss other methods of assessing your breasts, such as clinical exams or imaging tests. HexaHealth experts are passionate about helping people stay aware of their own body's health so that they can take preventive measures against any potential medical issues that may arise.

Suggested Reads:

1. How to Cure Breast Lump Naturally
2. Breast Lump When to Worry
3. Abscess in Breast
4. Foods that prevent Breast Cancer
5. How to Cure Breast Lump Naturally