01/10/2023
🎗OCTOBER IS CANCER AWARENESS MONTH 🎗
Let's stand together to raise awareness, support survivors, and promote early detection.
Performing a breast self-examination (BSE) is an important step in monitoring your breast health.
Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:
1. Choose a Comfortable Location: Find a quiet, well-lit room where you can stand or sit comfortably in front of a mirror.
2. Examine Your Breasts in Front of a Mirror:
- Begin by visually inspecting your breasts with your arms at your sides.
- Next, raise your arms overhead and observe your breasts from different angles.
- Look for any changes in size, shape, or contour, as well as skin dimpling, puckering, or ni**le inversion (turning inward).
3. Check for Changes in Ni**le:
- Gently squeeze each ni**le between your thumb and forefinger and check for any discharge, such as blood or clear fluid.
4. Inspect Your Breasts Lying Down:
- Lie down with a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head.
- Use the pads of your three middle fingers on your left hand to examine your right breast.
- Start at the outer edge and move in small, circular motions around the breast, gradually working your way toward the ni**le.
- Be sure to cover the entire breast, checking for any lumps, thickening, or changes in texture.
5. Repeat the Examination for the Left Breast:
- Switch to your right side with your left arm behind your head and examine your left breast using the same method.
6. Check for Lymph Nodes:
- While examining your breasts, also feel for any enlarged lymph nodes under your armpits and along your collarbone.
7. Report Any Changes:
- If you notice any changes, such as lumps, pain, or other abnormalities during your self-examination, consult a healthcare professional promptly.
It's essential to perform breast self-exams regularly, preferably once a month.
Keep in mind that BSE is just one part of breast health monitoring, and it should not replace regular mammograms and clinical breast exams by a healthcare provider.
If you have any concerns about your breast health or are unsure how to perform a self-exam, consult with a healthcare professional for guidance.
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