In this episode of the podcast, I will be guiding you step by step in how to do a breast examination. This is a question I get asked numerous times. Many people don’t know where to start, how to do it or what to look out and feel for. Some even have given up examining their breasts as it feels too intimidating and scary.
And so I thought I would provide some help. The aim is that by the end of this podcast you should be able to examine your breast confidently.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN?
- How to start a breast examination
- What is the best position? Should you be sitting or standing?
- Should I examine using the palm of my hand or fingers?
- How to make sure you examine your breasts in a systematic way
- What things should I be looking out for?
- Should I be pressing hard or lightly?
- When to examine your breasts
The key points in breast examination:
Inspection / Looking
Stand in front of a mirror, and with your hands on your hips and then again above your head, look for:
- Any eczematous skin changes, redness or rashes.
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin.
- Any nipple indrawing or spontaneous nipple discharge.
- Contour changes or changes to the shape of the breast.
Palpating / Feeling
Either in the shower or whilst lying down on your bed or sofa, feel your breasts with the flat of your hands. In your mind, divide the breast into 4 sections with a line drawn up and down and across. If you are starting with your left breast, then place your left hand behind your head, and with the flat of your right hand, examine your breast from one section to the next. Don’t forget to examine the nipple once done. Then repeat the procedure for your right breast. So, place your right hand behind your head then examine using the flat of your fingers of your left hand.
Feel for any lumps, fullness or anything new that you have not felt before.
Don’t forget to examine your armpits (axillae)
Once you have examined your breasts, remember to examine your armpits for any lumps as well.
I hope this has been helpful. The main thing to remember is to examine your breasts regularly. By doing this, you will become familiar as to what is normal for you. That way, any new changes can be more easily felt and identified.
Subscribe and review
If you don’t want to miss out on future episodes then please make sure you subscribe to the podcast. You can do it at Apple Podcast, Stitcher, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Google Podcasts and other podcast apps that take your fancy.
Also, if you are feeling super generous, I’d be grateful if you could help out by leaving a review on Apple Podcast. This will help spread the word, making the My Breast My Health podcast more discoverable to people who may not know it exists! Hopefully, by doing this, more people can benefit from it too.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR LISTENING
DISCLAIMER: The content of this podcast and website is not a substitute for seeking medical advice from a healthcare professional. Please do not delay in seeing a doctor for a breast problem, because of what you have read on this website or heard on this podcast.