How to Do The Breast Cancer Self Check

After the age of 20, every girl and woman must take a set of procedures to ensure her physical health and early detection of breast cancer, the most important of which is manual breast examination.

You should do a manual examination of all corners of your breasts at least once a month to make sure there are no strange lumps or any difference in shape.

To perform a manual examination, follow these steps:

Step one:

1. Stand in front of the mirror with your hands on your waist and shoulders tight.
2. Make sure the shape of each breast is symmetrical, with no difference in skin color or strange lumps.
3. Make sure the breast is the usual size without any enlargement or reduction.
4. Make sure that the nipple is in its natural place and press it along with the surrounding area to make sure that no pain or fluid is coming out.
5. Use your folded fingertips for direct contact.
6. If you notice any difference in the above-mentioned points, inform your doctor immediately.

Step two and three:

1. Stand in front of the mirror and raise your hands up.
2. Look for differences in skin color or size, or if there are any strange lumps.
3. Fold your fingers and start touching gently, but firmly.
4. Concentrate on the nipples and press them gently along with the surrounding area to make sure that no liquid is coming out. If there is any yellow or milky fluid or blood coming out of the nipples, tell your doctor right away.
5. Gently run your fingers over the area under the armpits, making sure that there are no strange lumps or discoloration of the skin along the area from the armpits to the end of the breast.
6. After the random examination, start making a circular motion from the nipple area out to the entire breast.
7. After the circular motion, start a horizontal motion that covers the entire area from top to bottom.
8. If you prefer to do the test underwater, it is advised to add a little soap in case you have dry skin.

Step four:

1. Lie on your side, raise one hand and feel the breast with the other.
2. Use your fingertips gently, but firmly, to make sure there are no lumps.
3. Start in a small circular motion (the size of a coin) to make sure your skin feels even.
4. Make sure to feel the entire area from the armpit to the waist.
5. Start at the circle around the nipple and work up the circles little by little to make sure you are examining the entire area.
6. After the circular examination, examine with horizontal lines. Run your fingers over the entire area mentioned in successive horizontal lines to make sure that the entire breast area is free of any differences or lumps.
7. If you notice any differences or lumps, no matter how small, do not hesitate to inform your doctor about it.

Step five:

1. Do the same checks mentioned above, but sitting in front of the mirror.
2. Early detection after the age of 40
3. In addition to the monthly manual examination, you must perform the following examinations periodically:
4. Visit your doctor for a manual examination every 6 months.
5. Do a mammogram at least once a year. If you notice any symptoms during your monthly manual exam, you should see your GP immediately.

Make sure there is no:

• difference in the size or girth of one breast compared to the other or your previous observations from a previous examination.
• lump or thickening under the skin that your fingers can touch.
• Unprecedented wrinkles in the skin of the breast.
• kind of blood or fluid, except milk for a nursing mother, comes out of the nipple.
• If the nipple has turned inward and you cannot take it out.
• If there is peeling skin around or on the nipple.
• If there is a lump anywhere in the area extending from the armpits to the abdomen, even if it is not painful when pressed.