Generally, about 1 in 12 women will contract breast cancer at some age and the odds are higher later in life. Courtesy of modern medicine, many breast cancers can be successfully treated with minimum impact. However, one’s treatment success level is extremely dependent on early detection. The earlier breast cancer is detected the higher your chance for survival. One easy way to increase the odds of early discovery is the performance of a regular breast self exam.

The purpose of breast self examination is early detection of changes that might signal a condition that needs further investigation by either a professional clinical exam, mammogram or other diagnostic tool. Any changes could potentially indicate an abnormality. But to be able to determine what is abnormal one must know what is normal. Normal varies from individual to individual even though there are commonalities.

The first step in conducting a proper self-exam is to know what your own breasts feel and look like in general. Each and every part of the body goes through subtle changes on a regular basis. Throughout the menstrual cycle these changes might be exaggerated. Breasts may become enlarged and even more sensitive. If you start your self-exam a few days prior to your period every month it will become a habit. If you are post-menopausal you should choose the same day each month to perform the exam.

Stand in front of a mirror unclothed and make a visual inspection. Look for changes in the size of only one breast. Normal menstrual cycles and other hormonally related variation will usually affect both the same. Look for any changes in size or color of the nipple or areola (the darker skin around the nipple). Note any wrinkling or ‘orange peel’ appearance that is not due to cold temperature. Most areola are round. Look for any lack of symmetry.

Squeeze a nipple gently noting any fluid that might come out. Some lactation is normal in some women. Yellowish, pus-like fluid is not normal and you should call your physician for further examination. It could just be a simple infection but it could also be the early sign of a developing tumor. Make sure and do this procedure on both nipples.

Continue to observe the breast looking for tumors. Make sure and feel the entire surface of the breasts with your arms lowered. Don’t just observe the surface from the breastbone to the side, but also up toward the armpit as well. Press the breasts firmly with the finger pas and move the hand slowly trying to feel for any thickening or lumps in the breast.

A lump could be nothing more than a simple cyst which is a fluid filled tissue sac. Often cysts are round and palpable. They are typically benign even though you might want to have them removed. Cysts usually fade spontaneously over time.

Cancerous lumps tend to be harder and less regular in shape. They are frequently attached to breast tissue. Not all hard lumps are cancerous either, so don’t be unduly alarmed. Many are just what are called fibroadenomas, a benign clump of cells. Professional tests are required in order to know for sure.

Be particularly aware of any lumps which change in size. Cancer is a malignant, uncontrolled growth of cells in tissue. As such, cancer tumors don’t remain static but increase in size and, later, may spread to other parts of the body.

Continue your self-exam by raising the arms over your head and applying pressure all the way from the breastbone to the armpit again. Make sure you do this on both sides and breasts.

You want to make sure you perform the procedure again, this time while lying down with the arms lowered and then raised overhead. This is again for the observation of any changes, especially tissues that have become hard. The procedure can be repeated in the shower in effort to reduce friction on the skin, but sometimes it is difficult to find changes or lumps when water is splashing on your skin, you might want to use baby oil instead.

Women age 20 and over should be performing breast self-exams on a regular basis, and women over 40 should get a mammogram annually.

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