How Do I Do a Breast Self-Exam Correctly?

A breast self-exam is you checking both breasts for lumps, thickening, or changes in size and shape. Fingers and eyes, that’s it. Do it monthly and you catch the small stuff before it becomes big stuff. Most of what you’ll feel is nothing. But you can’t spot the odd thing unless you already know your own normal.

According to Dr. Sandeep Nayak, surgical oncologist in India, “Most women who catch their own lumps early do it because they knew their normal, not because they followed some perfect technique.”

A few minutes, done in a set order, and you’re covered.

• Timing Few days after your period ends is best, when things aren’t sore. Past menopause? Just pick a date and stick to it every month.
• Looking Mirror first. Arms down, then up over your head. You’re looking for dimpling, swelling, or one side that suddenly sits different from the other.
• Feeling Three fingers, flat, small circles. Whole breast, collarbone down to bra line, and please don’t skip near the armpit. That’s where people get lazy.
• Pressure This is the bit most folks rush. Light pass, then medium, then firm. Lumps hide at different depths and one gentle sweep won’t find them.

And if something real does turn up, early breast surgery gives you the best shot by a mile.

Not every change is cancer. A handful, though, mean you call someone.

• Lumps A hard one that’s still there after your next cycle, and feels stuck instead of rolling around, don’t sit on it.
• Skin Puckering, redness, that orange-peel look. None of that is a bra being too tight.
• Nipple Pulling inward out of nowhere. Or discharge that’s bloody or clear when you weren’t even touching it.
• Pain Look, most breast pain is just hormones doing their thing. But pain locked to one exact spot for weeks? That one earns a phone call.

Knowing the survival rates is what turns a terrifying week into a treatable one.