Breast Self-Exams: A Step By Step Guide

A breast self-exam takes just a few minutes, and it’s one of the best things you can do to be proactive about your health. For many reasons, this is not easy for some women to do, since they might feel fear or anxiety about finding something wrong.

But when breast cancer is detected early, and is in the localized stage, the 5-year relative survival rate is above 90%. Even if you do discover a lump during a self-exam, the chances are it will not be cancerous, and it’s always better to be safe than sorry. 

Doing a breast self-exam is the smart thing to do, and it’s so easy. Here is a step-by-step guide to performing a breast self-examination.

Choose the right time and place

Many women find if they establish a comfortable routine of how they go about breast self-examination, the exams become just another part of their usual monthly routine. It’s all personal preference, so pick the time and place with which you are most comfortable.

When is the best time during my menstrual cycle to do a breast self examination?

The best time to perform a self-exam of your breasts is usually the week after your period ends. This is because a woman’s hormone levels fluctuate each month during their menstrual cycle, which causes changes in breast tissue. Swelling begins to decrease when your period starts.

Why is it important to keep a consistent schedule for my breast self-exams?

Without a consistent schedule for your self-exams, it will be more difficult for you to tell if there have been any differences in your breasts. Consider doing your breast self-exam every month, the week after your period ends. That might make it easier to remember.

Performing a visual examination

The first step in a breast self-exam is to do a visual check of your breasts. Before that, however, some women find it helpful to discuss self-exams with their healthcare provider, to get specific instructions, and to learn what to do.

How should I position my body for a visual exam?

Remove your shirt and bra, and stand in front of a mirror, with your arms at your sides. Face forward, and look for any dimpling, or changes in size, shape, or symmetry of your breasts. Also check to see if your nipples are turned in (inverted).

How can I position my arms to check for changes in my breasts?

This is important: when standing, inspect your breasts with your hands pressed down on your hips. Then inspect your breasts with your arms raised over your head with the palms of your hand pressed together. After that, lift your breasts to see if the undersides of your breasts look symmetrical.

What kinds of changes in my breasts should I look for?

Look for any lumps, changes in your skin, dimpling, swelling, irritation, discharge from your nipples, and any general pain. If you discover any of these changes, contact your healthcare provider.

Doing a physical exam while lying down

After checking your breasts in the mirror, many women find it easier to perform a self-examination with their hands lying down. When you lay down, breast tissue flattens and spreads out, which can make it easier to feel anything suspicious.

Lying down, how should I position my body for an effective breast self-exam?

Lie flat on your back, with one arm over your head, and a pillow or folded towel under the shoulder. This position flattens the breast and makes it easier to check.

How do I check my breasts for changes while lying down?

Feel your breasts one at a time while laying down, using the pads of your fingers from your opposite hand, and applying firm pressure. Start at the outside of your armpit near your back with a small circular motion. Moving up and down in lines from high in your armpit to below your breast crease. Keep doing this until you reach the cleavage. Then repeat the process on the other side.

Why is it a good idea to use the pads of your fingers, and not your fingertips, to do a breast self-exam?

Using your fingertips allows you to feel for lumps and changes more easily. So use the pads of your three middle fingers, and not your fingertips, to do your exam. 

Why should you use different pressure levels when examining your breasts?

Using different pressure levels is very important. The idea is to feel all the breast tissue you can, so examine your breast at different depths by applying different levels of pressure. Lighter pressure should be used to feel the tissue closer to the skin, medium pressure to feel a little deeper, and firm pressure to feel the breast tissue closer to the chest and ribs.

How can I make sure to thoroughly examine my breast tissue during the exam?

To make sure you are getting full exam coverage, use a methodical technique to make sure you examine the entire breast. The idea is to begin near your collarbone and examine each section, moving your fingers toward your nipple, and then do the same to the next sections.

Doing a physical exam while standing or sitting

The more ways you conduct a self-exam, whether it’s lying, or standing, or sitting, or even in the shower, can help in early detection of breast cancer. These different positions and angles will help you detect abnormalities which otherwise might be difficult to detect.

In addition to lying down, why is it important to perform a breast self-exam in a standing or sitting position?

Performing a breast self-exam in different positions, including standing or sitting, can help you detect abnormalities that might be hard to feel or see from other angles. You can use the same hand motions you use when lying down to inspect your breasts.

How should I check my breasts for changes while standing or sitting?

You can use the same hand motions you use when lying down to inspect your breasts. Some healthcare providers recommend performing the exam in the shower because wet or soapy skin can make it easier for your fingers to glide. 

Why is it a good idea to do a breast self-exam in the shower?

Many women prefer to do their self-exam in the water because it’s a comfortable space, and because the warm, soapy water makes it easier for you to glide your hands over your breasts.

How to schedule an appointment with us

Our goal is to offer you and your healthcare provider the most informative results possible, and we make it easy for you to get an appointment. 

With numerous locations across South Jersey, you’ll find us conveniently located near major highways and key bridges in the region. 

We’ll ensure the entire scheduling process is as effortless as possible for you. Above all, we are here to help you.

Reach out to us at any of the following locations to book an appointment:

• Cherry Hill Office – Cherry Hill, NJ
• Haddonfield Office – Haddonfield, NJ
• Marlton (Greentree) Office – Marlton, NJ
• Moorestown Office – Moorestown, NJ
• Turnersville Office – Turnersville, NJ
• West Deptford Office – West Deptford, NJ
• Willingboro Office – Willingboro, NJ
• Women’s Center at Cross Keys – Sewell, NJ
• Women’s Center at Medford – Medford, NJ
• Women’s Center at Mount Laurel – Mount Laurel, NJ
• Women’s Center at Voorhees – Voorhees Township, NJ

Learn more about the board-certified, subspecialized radiologists who read, analyze and interpret the findings here at South Jersey Radiology Associates.