Self Breast Exam

A clinical breast examination is a physical examination of your breasts by a trained medical or health professional such as a physician or nurse. This should be done once a year. In between your annual clinical exam, you should be conducting a self breast exam on your own. A self breast exam is a physical examination of the breast performed every month. Women who are still having periods should do their self breast exam 10 days after the first day of their period. Women who are not having periods should pick a specific day every month to do a breast exam. A healthcare provider or breast specialist can instruct patients on how to do a proper self breast exam. The following are abnormalities women should be looking for when doing a self breast exam:

• Any new lump or hard knot found in the breast or armpit
• Any lump or thickening that does not shrink or lessen after your next period
• Any change in the size, shape or symmetry of your breast
• A thickening or swelling of the breast
• Any dimpling, puckering or indention in the breast
• Dimpling, skin irritation or other change in the breast skin or nipple
• Redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin
• Nipple discharge
• Nipple retraction: turning or drawing inward or pointing in a new direction
• Any breast change that may be cause for concern

Click here to view the five steps of a self breast exam from breastcancer.org.

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