Breast Self Exam
By Deepi Brar
CONSUMER HEALTH INTERACTIVE Flash animation by Eric Turner Copyright 2001 Consumer Health Interactive How to feel for lumps: Choose one of the three search patterns, and use it consistently each time. No matter which method you choose, start by resting one hand on the back of your head. If you raise your right arm, examine your right breast first. Use your middle three fingers (index, middle, and ring) and keep them straight. Press the tips of these fingers on a small area about the size of a quarter. Vary the pressure as you go, and try to feel deep in the breast tissue for lumps that feel different than usual. Make sure you cover everything from the collarbone to the bottom of the breast, and from the middle of the chest all the way out to the armpit. If you prefer, you can reverse the direction of any of these patterns (start at the nipple, for example) but the important thing is to be consistent. Note: Feeling for lumps is only part of a complete breast exam. Please click here for our breast self exam primer -- it has more information, including the best time to do one, and how to do a visual inspection. (If you don't see anything loading above, you probably need to download and install the free Flash Player. Click on one of the buttons to get the free software from Macromedia Inc.) Note: If you're at work, you may have trouble downloading or installing Flash.
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References
American Cancer Society booklet "Breast Self-Examination: A New Approach."
National Cancer Institute booklet, "What You Need to Know About Breast Cancer."
National Women's Health Information Center, "Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer," a project of the U.S. Public Health Service's Office on Women's Health.
Osuch, M.D. Janet Rose, "Care of the Healthy Breast," American Medical Women's Association, The Philip Lief Group: 1995.
Virtual Hospital Iowa Health Book, University of Iowa, "Breast Exams: What You Should Know," peer reviewed by the National Cancer Institute, University of Iowa: 1992
Reviewed by Jocelyn J. Dunn, M.D., a Harvard-trained surgeon specializing in breast diseases and breast cancer, currently practicing in Palo Alto, California.
Our reviewers are members of Consumer Health Interactive's medical advisory board.
To learn more about our writers and editors, click here.
First published August 28, 2001
Last updated May 15, 2008
Copyright © 2001 Consumer Health Interactive
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