The Self-Breast Exam Your Health Class Never Taught You

30% of cancer cases within the female population are related to breast

Your breasts. They’re something you look at every day for the duration of your life. A part of a woman’s (and man’s) body that represents many things to society: fertility, sexual attraction, motherhood, physical fitness, etc. Why is it then, that we are raised knowing so little about how to care and look after them? According to the American Cancer Society, 30% of cancer cases within the female population are related to breast. The best form of protection for women and men is to perform self-exams and become familiar with your breasts.

Now, that is not to say that a person performing a self-exam can determine if they have an infection, a cyst, or breast cancer. Only advanced imaging and screening tools can identify the presence of an abnormality. The importance of a breast self-exam is to familiarize yourself with your breasts so that if something out of the ordinary does arise, you can be confident in seeking professional guidance. Let’s go over the basics of a breast self-exam.

• Perform your exam at least once a month around the same time, set a reminder on your phone or put on your calendar!
• Avoid performing your breast exam during or leading up to your menstrual cycle. You tend to be sore, swollen, and lumps may arise during this time (which is normal).
• The National Breast Cancer Foundation recommends performing your exam in 3 ways:

1. In the shower-using the flat pads of three fingers, press down in alternating pressure around the entire breast all the way up into the armpit.


2. In front of a mirror-visually inspect your breasts and look for any dimples, asymmetry, or color changes.


3. Lying down-place a pillow under the breast being inspected and use the same three finger pads to press down in alternating pressure all around the breast and armpit. Check nipple for discharge by squeezing.

Signs of abnormalities include pain, discharge, skin dimpling, new lumps, itching, color changes, symmetry changes, nipple turning inward. If any of these symptoms present. Contact your doctor.

For more information on how to perform a breast self-exam view Breast Self-Exam, visit the National Breast Cancer Foundation.

For a list of services and care providers with Saint Alphonsus, feel free to visit Boise Breast Care Center.

Ronni Benson RN, BSN is a Breast Cancer Nurse Navigator at Saint Alphonsus.