THE BASIC STEPS INVOLVED IN BREAST SELF-EXAMINATION
Here are the basic steps involved in breast self-examination:
1) Stand in front of a large mirror, with your arms at your sides. Observe both breasts for anything unusual, including any change in size or contour.
2) Clasp your hands behind your head and press them forward. Sometimes lumps that are difficult to feel are easy to see. Study both breasts again, looking for any changes— a swelling, dimpling of skin, changes in the nipple, or scaling of skin.
3) Next, press your hands firmly on your hips and bow slightly toward your mirror as you pull your shoulders and elbows forward. Look at your breasts again. Do you notice any significant differences between them?
4) Raise your left arm. Use three or four fingers of your right hand to feel your left breast carefully and thoroughly. Beginning at the outer edge, make small circular motions with the flattened fingers of your right hand, moving the circles slowly around the breast. Gradually work toward the nipple. Be sure to cover the entire breast, and spend at least two minutes on each breast. Pay special attention to the area between the breast and the armpit, including the armpit itself. You should feel for any unusual lump or mass under the skin. Repeat the procedure, using your left hand on your right breast.
5) Look down at your breasts and gently squeeze each nipple between yourj thumb and index finger. A minimal whitish discharge is fairly common for some women, but you should report any unusual or bloody discharge to your doctor immediately.
You may also do steps 4 and 5 while lying down. To do so, place a folded towel under your left shoulder (or under the shoulder on the side you plan to examine first) and your left hand behind your head. This position flattens the breast and may make it easier to examine. Using the circular motion described in step 4, examine both breasts thoroughly.
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