DO YOU PERFORM A REGULAR BREAST SELF EXAM

Regular breast self exams are an important part of your health. Knowing your body's normal shape color and feel, allows you to readily know when a change occurs. Early detection of a change in your breast found during a breast self exam increases your chances of recovery should that change indicate breast cancer.

A breast self exam should be performed once a month, at the same time every month. Ideally this would be about 4 days after your period ends. This is because any swelling or tenderness that may occur as part of the normal menstrual cycle will have passed. A breast self exam, no matter how well done, should not take the place of regular doctor visits and mammograms.

When performing a breast self exam you are looking for certain changes in your breast. Skin irritation, painful nipples or nipples that turn inward, redness of the breast or nipples, a discharge from the nipple other than breast milk, or an unusual lump are changes that require a doctor visit. Some lumps in your breast are normal. If you feel a lump, examine the other breast. If both breasts feel similar then the lump is probably normal. After several breast self examinations you will know what is normal and what constitutes change.

There is a proper way to perform a breast self exam. Many web sites can guide you through the process, but the best teacher is a health care professional. Take control of your health. Learn to perform a breast self examination and then do one once a month.