Although self-breast exams cannot immediately diagnose breast cancer, performing them routinely  is a great habit to get into! Familiarizing yourself with your breasts will allow you to quickly detect any significant changes to the look or feel of them, prompting a doctor to perform a more conclusive examination. Here's how to take control of your breast health at home: 

Make it a habit

It is recommended that you perform a self-breast exam (SBE) about once a month to stay familiar with the typical shape of your breasts.  To help form the best habits, make sure that you:

• Perform the exam on the same day of each month
• Leave reminders for yourself so that you don't forget a check-up
• Account for irregularities that may be caused by menstruation
• 7-10 days after your period starts is a great time for an exam — breasts will be less tender and bumpy

Be thorough

You'll need to examine your breasts while in multiple positions to feel confident that you didn't miss anything. After a shower is a great time to get real close to a mirror and look for any changes. Some positions you can try are: 

• Standing straight-on
• Standing with your arms raised above your head
• Lying on your back, using your opposite hand to feel around each breast 

For more steps on how to perform an exam, check out this resource. 

Be sure to take notes of all of your observations. These will be useful to help you recall where you started, and remain cognizant of things that may have shifted. 

Know what to look for

There can be many reasons that breasts change slightly over time, the vast majority of them are nothing to worry about. However, here are some things that you'll want to look out for:

• Changes in your breasts' size, shape, and/or color
• Tenderness or tingling
• Swelling or chafing 
• Hard lumps in the breast tissue

Breast examinations are an act of self-care, and shouldn't cause you too much anxiety! It's important to remember that 80% of the lumps that women detect aren't cancerous.

If you're ever concerned about something you find through SBE, there are always more thorough examinations for checking your breast health. One such exam is thermography — a radiation-free way to detect abnormalities in the breast tissue. Interested in getting your report? Contact CT Thermography today to schedule an appointment.