Self Breast Exam Step By Step Instructions

Although the majority of the disorders of the female breast are benign in character, the breast is one of the two female organs that are most frequently primary sites of cancer. The breast normally changes during menstruation, pregnancy, lactation, and menopause, and these variations need to be differentiated from pathologic changes. Although the breast is fairly accessible to examination, the detection and accurate diagnosis of breast disease can be difficult. This is typically important as it is not easy to find a video showing a breast examination.

About one-fourth of all women have irregular areas in their breasts at some time. Just before menstruation, irregularities produced by hyperplasia and involution occur; these feel granular or finely nodular and usually occur in the upper outer quadrants. Some women have persistently irregular breast tissue that feels shot-like or plaque-like between periods.  As you continue through the process you should keep a journal about breast self examination.

Such masses are not considered true in the sense that they usually are bilateral and do not increase in size or consolidate. On the other hand, true masses do not fluctuate in size and are usually unilateral. Ninety- five per cent of all true masses are cysts, fibroadenomas and carcinomas. There is surely a right way and a wrong way to conduct a self exam for your breast. Many people often ask exactly what a p3 scale breast clinical examination is.

The benign lesions, represented in the order of frequency and the common ages at which they occur, are fibrocystic disease (20 to 25 years), fibroadenoma (20 to 39 years), and intraductal papilloma (35 to 45 years). By/way of contrast, cancer of the breast is manifested chiefly in the menopausal and postmenopausal years; approximately 75 per cent occur in patients over the age of 40; less than 2 per cent occur before the age of 30.

In 1968, approximately 65,000 new cases of malignant breast tumors were discovered, according to the American Cancer Society, and approximately 28,000 women died from the disease. The survival rate for all breast cancer patients, whether treated or untreated, is roughly 50 per cent; the sooner women seek treatment and the lesion is recognized, the greater the possibility of survival. However realistically shoul you have a breast examination in school in todays world.

Step By Step Guide
Step 1
Sit or stand in front of your mirror, with your arms relaxed at your sides, and examine your breasts carefully for any changes in size and shape. Look for any puckering or dimpling of the skin, and for any discharge or change in the nipples. Learn more by searching for videos of self breast exams.
Step 2
Raise both your arms over your head, and look for exactly the same things. .See if there’s been any change since you last examined your breasts. This can be scheduled easily if you use printable mammogram and self breast exam reminder.

Step 3
Lie down on your bed, put a pillow or a bath towel under your left shoulder, and your left hand under your head. (From this Step through Step 8, you should feel for a lump or thickening.) With the fingers of your right hand held together flat, press gently but firmly with small circular motions to feel the inner, upper quarter of your left breast, starting at your breastbone and going outward toward the nipple line. Also feel the area around the nipple. This has caused serious breast examination fears.

Step 4
With the same gentle pressure, feel the lower inner part of your breast. Incidentally, in this area you will feel a ridge of firm tissue or flesh. Don’t be alarmed. This is perfectly normal. It is common to experience breast tenderness during self exam.

Step 5
Now bring your left arm down to your side, and still using the flat part of your fingers, feel under your armpit.

Step 6
Use the same gentle pressure to feel the upper, outer quarter of your breast from the nipple line to where your arm is resting. You can search for breast self exam photos clips to assist you during the process.

Step 7
And finally, feel the lower outer section of your breast, going from the outer part to the nipple.

Step 8
Repeat the entire procedure, as described, on the right breast. All women should not have any fear of breast examinations.

Sources:
Introduction to the Human Body, fifth ed. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York, 2001. 560.

Ramsay DT, Kent JC, Hartmann RA, Hartmann PE (June 2005). “Anatomy of the lactating human breast redefined with ultrasound imaging”. J. Anat.

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Greenbaum AR, Heslop T, Morris J, Dunn KW (April 2003). “An investigation of the suitability of bra fit in women referred for reduction mammaplasty”. Br J Plast Surg

Cruz-Korchin N, Korchin L (September 2004). “Breast-feeding after vertical mammaplasty with medial pedicle”. Plast. Reconstr. Surg. 114 (4)

Kakagia, D; Tripsiannis G, Tsoutsos D (2005-10). “Breastfeeding after reduction mammaplasty: a comparison of 3 techniques”. Ann Plast Surgery

Neifert, M; DeMarzo S, Seacat J, Young D, Leff M, Orleans M (1990). “The influence of breast surgery, breast appearance and pregnancy-induced changes on lactation sufficiency as measured by infant weight gain”