28/10/2023
Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women in South Africa with a lifetime risk of 1 in 27, according to the 2019 National Cancer Registry (NCR).
Performing regular breast-self exams are crucial to being more aware of your breast health and becoming familiar with your breasts so that if you feel any abnormalities, they’re more likely to be treated successfully.
Here are the best tips to performing a breast self exam
1. In the shower: With the pads/flats of your 3 middle fingers, check the entire breast and armpit area, pressing down with light, medium, and firm pressure. Check both breasts each month, feeling for any new lumps, thickenings, hardened knots, or any other breast changes.
2. In front of the mirro: With your arms at your sides, visually inspect your breasts, looking for any changes in the contour or shape of the breasts, any dimpling, swelling, or other skin irregularities on or around the breasts, or any changes in the ni***es.
Next, rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Look for any dimpling, puckering, or other changes, particularly on one side. Note that the left and right breasts will not exactly match—few women’s breasts are perfectly symmetrical.
3. Lying Down : When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and put your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move the pads of your 3 middle fingers around your right breast, covering the entire breast area and armpit.
Use light, medium, and firm pressure to feel for any new lumps, thickenings, hardened knots, or any other breast changes. Also squeeze the ni**le to check for discharge. Repeat these steps for your left breast.
