Easy Step-by-Step Guide to Breast Self Examinations.

What to Look For:

- Lumps or thickening in the breast or underarm.

- Unexplained changes in size or shape.

- Dimpling, puckering, or redness of the skin.

- Nipple discharge (especially if bloody).

- Nipple inversion or changes in appearance.

Here’s an easy step-by-step guide recommended by our Physician at PeriodTalk;

1. Visual Inspection in Front of a Mirror:

- Stand or sit topless in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides.

- Keeping in mind how your breasts have habitually been, look for changes in breast size, shape, or symmetry. Pay attention to dimpling, puckering, or changes in skin texture.

- Check if the nipples are in their usual position and not inverted.

- Repeat with arms raised above your head and again with hands on your hips, flexing your chest muscles to look for any distortions.

2. Lying Down Examination:

- Lie down on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder, and place your right arm behind your head. This position helps spread the breast tissue more evenly over your chest.

- Use your left hand to examine your right breast. Use the pads of your three middle fingers, keeping them flat and together.

- Move your fingers in small circular motions around your breast. Apply different pressure levels—light pressure for the tissue beneath the skin, medium for the middle, and firm for the deeper tissue.

- Cover the entire breast, from the collarbone to the top of the abdomen and from the armpit to the cleavage.

- Repeat on the left breast with your right hand.

3. Examination in the Shower:

- Many women find it easier to check their breasts when the skin is wet and slippery.

- Raise one arm behind your head and use the opposite hand to examine your breast in the same circular motion as when lying down.

- Again, feel for any lumps, thickening, or changes in breast tissue.

Frequency:

- Perform the exam once a month, ideally a few days after your menstrual period ends, when breasts are less likely to be swollen or tender. For women who are no longer menstruating, choosing a consistent day each month is helpful.

When to See a Doctor:

- If you notice any unusual changes, it’s important to consult a healthcare provider immediately for further evaluation.

This guide empowers women to be proactive in monitoring their breast health and gives them full access to intimate knowledge of their own bodies.

However, as recommended, BSEs should be combined with regular clinical breast exams and mammograms.

Period Talk in solidarity honors the resilient survivors, remembers those lost, and promotes action toward defeating breast cancer.

By Period Talk Uganda