Breast Self-Exam Procedure
Overview
Breast self-checks help people become more familiar with how their breasts usually look and feel. Using both sight and touch, an individual can notice any changes over time. If you notice something unusual, like lumps, thickening, or changes in shape or skin, you should discuss it with a healthcare professional.
Most changes found during these self-checks are not related to cancer. However, if you report any new or unusual differences, you can take early action if something serious is present.
Health organizations, such as the American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute, encourage you to be aware of what is normal for your own body. This self-awareness can help guide decisions about breast health.
Doctors no longer recommend routine self-exams as the only screening method. Research shows these checks do not lower breast cancer death rates. Still, if you know your baseline and speak up about changes, you may detect issues earlier.
Why People Perform Breast Self-Checks
People perform breast self-checks to stay in tune with their own bodies. This practice can build confidence and help individuals take an active role in their health. While not a replacement for medical screening, self-checks may prompt earlier conversations with healthcare providers when something seems off.
Possible Downsides
Anxiety From Noticing a Change
Many lumps or changes in the breast are not cancer. Still, noticing something unusual can lead to stress and concern. This anxiety can affect daily life and cause people to fear the results, even if the finding is harmless. It might take several days to get an appointment with a provider, which increases worry.
Needing Extra Exams and Procedures
When someone finds a lump, they often need more tests. These might include a diagnostic mammogram, breast ultrasound, or a breast MRI—especially for those with dense breasts.
Often, these lumps turn out to be non-cancerous, so some people may go through uncomfortable or invasive procedures that were not truly needed. Sometimes, a provider performs a biopsy to remove a small amount of breast tissue.
| Screening Test | When Used | Possible Harms |
|---|---|---|
| Mammogram | When a lump is found. | X-ray exposure, stress |
| Breast Ultrasound | To examine dense breast tissue. | False alarms |
| Biopsy | After an abnormal test result. | Discomfort, infection |
Mistaking Self-Exam as a Replacement for Screening
Learning about the typical look and feel of the breasts is helpful, but it cannot replace professional exams or screening tests. Self-exams do not substitute for a clinical breast exam or regular mammograms.
Professional screening, like mammography, is necessary for early cancer detection. Overestimating what self-exams can achieve might delay important checks and lead to overdiagnosis or underdiagnosis. Skipping these tests could lead to missed problems.
Getting Ready for a Breast Self-Check
Learn the Steps from a Medical Expert
Speak with a healthcare provider, such as a doctor or nurse, before starting a self-check. They can explain the process and show you the correct way to do the exam. This helps ensure every step is clear and done properly. Take notes or ask questions during this meeting.
Perform the Exam After Your Menstrual Cycle
People who have periods should plan to check their breasts about a week after their period finishes. During this time, hormone levels are lower and breasts are less tender or swollen. Doing the exam at this point makes it easier to notice real changes.
What to Expect During Your Self-Check
Start With a Careful Look in the Mirror
Before touching the breast area, stand or sit without clothing from the waist up in front of a mirror. Begin with arms relaxed at the sides. This allows for a clear view of both breasts for any visible differences.
Check for any changes in size, shape, or symmetry between both breasts. The skin should look smooth with no dimpling, puckering, or unusual texture. Observe whether the nipples are retracted or angled downward. Change your posture several times to get different views.
- Press hands on hips and keep shoulders straight to flex chest muscles.
- Raise arms high above the head and press palms together.
- Gently lift each breast to look for evenness along the bottom curves.
Table: What to Look for During Visual Check
| Area | What To Check For |
|---|---|
| Skin surface | Dimpling, puckers, or rashes |
| Shape & symmetry | Unusual swelling or shrinking |
| Nipples | Turning inward or color changes |
| Bottom edge | Ridges or lumps |
If you have trouble seeing fine details, ask someone you trust—like a family member—to help with this visual inspection.
Examine Breasts Physically Using Your Hands
After looking, use your hands to feel for changes in breast tissue. You can do this lying down on a flat surface or while standing in the shower, whichever feels more comfortable. Lathering your fingers with soap during a shower may make it easier for your fingers to glide across the skin.
Use the pads—not the tips—of your middle three fingers. Some people find it easier to use other sensitive areas, like the palm or backs of the fingers. Move each finger pad gently in small circles to cover each section of the breast and armpit area. Check all the depths of breast tissue by applying three levels of pressure:
- Light pressure for tissue closest to the skin.
- Medium pressure a bit deeper into the middle layers.
- Firm pressure for the tissue nearest the ribs and chest wall.
Move slowly and cover the entire area. Following a set pattern helps ensure you do not miss anything. For example, move in line with the pattern of a clock face or in lines from the top at the collarbone, down through the breast, and into the armpit.
List: Tips for Manual Self-Check
- Take several minutes; do not rush.
- Cover all zones: top, sides, underneath, and around the nipple.
- Feel into the armpit, where some breast tissue extends.
- Check for any new lumps, hard knots, or thick areas.
If you have difficulty doing the check due to a health condition, talk to your healthcare provider for customized advice.
Quick Note: Becoming familiar with the normal look and feel of your breasts—sometimes called breast self-awareness—can help you spot changes more quickly.
What to Expect
Common Breast Changes
Many changes in the breast are normal, especially during different times in the menstrual cycle or as people get older. For example, it is usual to feel a firm ridge along the bottom edge of the breast.
Both breasts might not feel the same, and their shape or firmness could differ from one area to another. These changes are a typical part of getting older and usually do not mean there is a health problem.
Signs That Need Medical Advice
Contact a healthcare provider if any of these changes are noticed:
- A hard area or lump, especially near the underarm.
- Nipple starts pointing inward instead of outward.
- Bloody or unusual nipple discharge.
- Skin changes such as redness, swelling, or pain.
- Thickening, fullness, or changes in the way breast tissue feels compared to nearby areas.
- Skin that dimples, puckers, bulges, or forms ridges.
- Areas with itching, scaling, sores, or rash.
Healthcare professionals perform tests such as a clinical breast exam, mammogram, or ultrasound to find out more about breast changes.
