How to Give Yourself a Breast Exam Step-by-Step

The pink ribbon has become a universal symbol for breast cancer awareness, and October has become the month we emphasize the importance of women’s breast health.

Whether you’re a woman at average risk for breast cancer or have factors that raise your risk, including dense breast tissue or a family history of breast cancer, focusing on prevention is the most important thing you can do to catch this disease as early as possible. The earlier a breast cancer diagnosis is made, the higher your chance for a positive outcome.

Two vital steps we encourage women to take are getting annual mammograms — the gold standard for screening — and performing monthly breast self-exams, so you can learn what “normal” looks and feels like for your breasts. 

At Q&S Surgical in Decatur and Lithonia, Georgia, we want to support your breast health through education and procedures like biopsies, lumpectomies, and partial mastectomies. 

As a board-certified general surgeon, Dr. Luis Quinones provides highly skilled treatment like advanced diagnostic tools and breast cancer risk assessments, combined with a rare sensitivity to his patients’ needs. You always feel cared for and never like a number.

Why are breast self-exams important?

We’ve all heard the statistics — one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer at some point in her life. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women aside from skin cancer, and it’s the second leading cause of cancer death in women after lung cancer. 

However, there’s plenty of good news about breast cancer too. The five-year survival rate when breast cancer is found early and in a localized stage is an encouraging 99%. Research on innovative testing and treatment is ongoing, and we know about ways women can lower their modifiable risk factors for the disease, such as eating well, exercising, and drinking alcohol in moderation.

Performing a monthly breast self-exam is important, and, fortunately, it’s easy and takes little time. Remember, the self-exam isn’t meant to replace your screening mammograms but to complement them. 

How do I do a breast self-exam?

It’s easy to give yourself a breast exam each month. Here are the steps for a thorough exam.

1. Visually examine your breasts

First, stand in front of a mirror with your hands on your hips and visually examine your breasts. What you’re looking for is anything unusual, like: 

• Skin dimpling
• A differently positioned or inverted nipple
• Swelling
• Skin changes like rash, redness, or flakiness
• Any change in breast size or shape 

Raise your arms and observe whether your breasts are leaking liquid that’s clear, milky, yellowish, or bloody. If you notice this, pursue it with Dr. Quinones.

2. Manually examine your breasts in two positions

For a complete check, you should feel for lumps or other abnormalities while lying down and in a standing or sitting position. 

While reclining, use your right hand to feel your left breast and your left hand to feel your right breast. Depending on which breast you’re examining, the same arm should rest above your head. 

With the tips of the first few fingers on your hand and keeping them flat and together, firmly press down on your breast and move in a circular direction, covering an area about the size of a quarter. 

Do this from top to bottom on each of your breasts and then from side to side, feeling for lumps, ripples, and anything different. For the top-to-bottom portion of the exam, start at your collarbone and go down to the top of your abdomen. For the side-to-side part of the exam, start at your armpit and conclude at your cleavage. 

You can start around your nipple and move outward methodically, or you can go from top to bottom in rows. Using light pressure allows you to feel the top tissue and applying more pressure lets you feel deeper tissue. When you apply the most pressure to feel the deepest tissue, you should be able to feel your ribcage. 

Repeat this step while standing or sitting. Many women find it easiest to do their upright breast exam while in the shower, as the water helps your fingers move easily. Record any changes you observe each time you do your breast self-exam and discuss these things with Dr. Quinones. 

To follow up on any concerns you have following your breast self-exam, ​​contact Dr. Quinones today. You can call our office or click online to book.