How to self-examine?

Your daily dose of health in 6 simple steps.

01

Take a good look at your breasts in the mirror.

Take a good look at your breasts in the mirror and start bylooking for changes in the shape, size or position of yournipples.

Do you have any of these symptoms?

  • Breast or nipple pain
  • Nipple discharge
  • Nipple retraction or inversion
  • Change in size/shape of the breast or asymmetry of the position of the nipples

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02

Raise your arms in the air.

After you have checked your nipples, raise your arms in the air, you are going to look for any distoration of your breasts such as dimpling of the skin.

Do you have any of these symptoms?

  • Visible lumps
  • Skin dimpling
  • Redness
  • Swelling

03

It is best to flat when examining your breasts.

It is best to flat when examining your breasts, either on your bed, or sofa or even in the bath. This allows your breast tissue to spread out and makes examination much easier.

Do you have any of these symptoms?

  • Palpable breast lump - if present is it hard or soft, smooth or irregular?

04

Use firm pressure with flat fingers of your right hand.

Then using firm pressure with flat fingers on your right hand press your breast tissue against the underlying chest wall and use your flat fingers press around each quarter of your left breast. Once you have done this then use your fingertips to press around your nipple. If you feel any lump or thickened area then use both of your hands to try and identify if there is a lump present.

Do you have any of these symptoms?

  • Bleeding from the nipple
  • Breast asymmetry in the terms of the feel of the breast and how lumpy it is

05

Repeat step 4.

Repeat step 4 but on your right breast and using your left hand.

Do you have any of these symptoms?

  • Lumps

06

Examine your left underarm area.

Finally, examine your left underarm area with your right hand, starting as high as possible in your armpit and running your fingers downwards looking for any lumps. Repeat this process on your right underarm using your left hand.

Do you have any of these symptoms?

  • Palpable breast lump in the armpit
  • Swelling of the arm
  • A tender swelling under the arm
  • Lymph node changes

Early Detection Saves Lives!

Talk to a doctor as soon as possible if you have any of the symptoms above or if you notice an unusual change in your breast.

Talk to a doctor