Oct 1, 2014 3 min read

Being proactive is one of the best things that you can do to stay on top of your breast health. Breast cancer can be highly treatable if caught early. In order to protect yourself, make sure you are scheduling regular breast exams with a physician and also performing a monthly self-breast exam.

The best time to do your breast exam is one week after your menstrual period starts when there is the least amount of swelling and breast tenderness.

How do you check yourself?

In the shower

Raise the right arm. With the fingers of the left hand flat, touch every part of the right breast, gently feeling for a lump or thickening. Repeat the process on your left breast by raising your left arm and feeling with the

right hand.

Before the mirror

With your arms at your side, look carefully for changes in size, shape, and contour of each breast. Look for puckering, dimpling, or change in skin texture. Raise

your arms up and examine again. Gently squeeze both nipples and look for discharge.

Lying down

Place a towel or pillow under your right shoulder and your right hand behind your head. Examine your right breast with your left hand. Fingers flat, press gently in small circles, starting at the outermost top edge of your breast and spiraling in toward the nipple.

Examine every part of the breast. Repeat with the left breast.

Stand up

With your arm resting on a firm surface, use a circular motion to examine the underarm area. This area also contains breast tissue.

This exam is not a substitute for periodic examinations by a qualified physician. Remember to check your breasts monthly and follow up with your doctor to schedule your annual exams and mammograms.

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If you are concerned about your breast health, talk to your doctor about your concerns. For more information or to make an appointment with a WHS OB/GYN Care, call (724) 225-3640 or visit whsdocs.org.