What feels and looks normal for you?
Get to know your breast tissue which you can do by looking at and feeling your breasts. To note that there is more than one way to check your breasts and remember that one way in not necessarily better than another. There is not enough proof from research to show that doing regular standardized breast self-examination is better or that it reduces mortality rates from breast cancer (1).
What is important is that you get to know the whole area of your breast tissue on both sides including the nipple area, above and below each breast and under both arms. The pictures below show you a more structured approach to checking your breasts for women who prefer this method. Remember that it is normal for women to find lumps around their menstrual cycle and not all lumps are cancerous. If you find a change bring it to the attention of you doctor.
(1) Baxter, Nancy, with the Canadian Task Force on Preventive Health. Preventive Health Care, Should Women be Routinely Taught Breast Self-Examination to Screen for Breast Cancer? Canadian Medical Association Journal 2001; 164 (13): 1837-46)
Five steps to Being Breast Aware
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation promotes five steps to becoming breast aware:
1. Know how your breasts normally look and feel
2. Know what changes to look for
3. Look and feel for changes
4. Report any changes to a doctor
5. Go for a free mammogram if you are of the appropriate age, or if recommended by a
doctor. By finding breast abnormalities in the early stages, mammograms can save lives.
Women at the appropriate age can get a free mammogram through their regional breast
screening program.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation also has additional information on
the following topics:
• Normal changes
• Benign breast conditions
• Look and feel
• What to look for
• How is this related to Breast Self-Examination