Breast Care.
Be aware:
To be breast
aware means becoming familiar with how your breasts look and feel.
You should understand how your breasts may change at different times during the
month and also as you get older.
For some women,
breasts become enlarged, tender and lumpy just before a period,
and then return to normal once the period is over, others may have swollen
breasts throughout the cycle
Age, pregnancy,
Hormone Replacement Therapy and the menopause can all affect
the size and feel of your breasts.
The most important thing is to recognise which changes are usual and which are not.
Make sure that
you know what is normal for you.
What you should do:
You can help yourself by checking your breast at least once a month to familiarise yourself with how your breasts normally look and feel.
Examine yourself
several days after your period ends, when your breasts are least
likely to be swollen and tender. If you are no longer having periods, choose a
day
that’s easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.
Just a few
minutes once a month could help save your life. Look for these changes,
and remember, if you are in any doubt or you find any changes, visit your
doctor, and
if you are aged fifty or over attend regular breast screening.
The Five Steps of a Breast Self Exam:
Step One:
Begin by looking at your breasts in the
mirror, with your shoulders straight and your
arms on your hips.
Here's
what you should look for:
- Breasts that are their usual size, shape, and colour.
- Breasts that are evenly shaped without visible distortion
or swelling.
If you see any of the following changes, bring them to
your doctors' attention:
- Dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin.
- Redness, soreness, rash or swelling
- A nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward
instead of sticking out).
Step Two:
Now raise your arms and look for the
same changes.
Step Three:
While you are at the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple
between finger and thumb and check for discharge (this
could be milky or yellow fluid, or blood).
Step Four:
Next, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right
hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast.
Use a firm soft touch with the first few fingers of your hand, keeping the
fingers flat and together.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side - from your collarbone
to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast.
You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger
circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You
can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in
rows, as if you were mowing the lawn.
Be sure to feel all the breast tissue; just beneath the skin with a soft touch,
and down deeper with a firmer touch. Begin examining each area with a very
soft touch, and then increase the pressure so that you can feel the deeper
tissue, down to your ribcage.
Step Five:
Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting.
Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts
is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do
this step in the shower.
Cover your entire breast, using the same method and
hand movements described in Step Four.
Further full information is
available on
http://www.cancerscreening.nhs.uk