A simple and easy guide to this procedure that you can perfom yourself.

How to examine your breasts and check for lumps

This is my self-help guide to checking your breasts for lumps and other changes.

Breast cancer
Although we have a very efficient Breast Screening service (Mammograms) in the UK that saves 1,400 lives every year, women still need to check their breast regularly, so that they know how their breasts feel at different stages of the month.

For example, your breasts may feel more 'lumpy' and tender in the week before your period. Even with this Mammogram service, 70% of breast lumps are actually discovered by women checking their own breasts regularly.

Because breast cancer lumps don't usually cause pain, it's vital that women get into the routine of checking their breasts regularly – otherwise you’d never know! The earlier breast cancer is diagnosed (as with all other cancers) the better the outlook.

Breast cancer increases as you get older and 80% occur after the age of 50yrs, that's why the breast screening service (mammograms) are for women aged 50-70yrs. OK, although some women get Breast Cancer under 50yrs it is rare in this age group, but nevertheless everywoman should get into the habit of feeling and being aware of how their breasts feel.

How to examine your breasts
So lets go through the process of how to examine your breasts. Your breast examination kit consists of a mirror and a pair of hands!

First LOOK

1.With arms by your side.
  • Size and Shape:
    Standing in front of a mirror compare one breast with the other. Thankfully Mother nature has given you two breasts, so you can compare one with the other. You should look for any change. Is there any change in the size and shape of each breast. Many women have breasts of different size and shape anyhow, but you’re looking for any further change in size and shape.
  • Skin changes:
    Can you see any puckering or dimpling of the skin in either breast.
  • Nipple:
    Is the skin of the nipple dry, cracked, flaky, itchy or bleeding? Is the nipple becoming inverted (turned in)? Is there any discharge, especially blood stained, from the nipple?


2. With arms raised above your head.
Repeat the above procedures.

3. Then lean forward.
Look for the above signs whilst your breasts are hanging. Sometimes skin dimpling or puckering may be more obvious when the breasts are pendulous, or hanging down.

Next, FEEL
Ideally, put aside one night a week, to indulge yourself by having a relaxing bath. Examining your breasts whilst lying in a bath of soapy water makes it easier, to feel the breast tissue. Bath night is breast night! But examining your breast in the shower, in bed or anywhere is better than not examining your breasts at all!

Using the flat (or pads) of your fingers, rather than the tips of your fingers, start at the nipple and press down quite firmly squeezing the breast between the flat of your fingers and your underlying ribcage.

Move your fingers in a circular action and move out from the nipple in ever increasing circles out towards the edge of each breast. Pay particular attention to the upper outer quarter of each breast as 60% of breast cancers occur in this area. Imagine dividing the breast into 4 quarters, the upper outer quarter is the top outer quarter of your breast.

Once you’ve fully examined the whole breast then feel all over into the armpit, to see if you can detect any lumps. Breast tissue actually extends into the armpit, and glands (lymph nodes) in the armpit can become enlarged if there is a cancer in the breast.

Finally, feel the area just above your collar bone at the base of your neck. Again you’re feeling for possible swollen glands.

If you find a lump.
Be reassured that 90% of breast lumps are not breast cancers, they are cysts or a benign (non-cancerous) items called Fibro-Adenomas.

However, you must report your findings to your GP who will then re-examine your breasts and then probably refer you onto a breast specialist at your local hospital. You will then probably have a Mammogram – an X-ray of the breast, which can feel uncomfortable. But this discomfort is well worth tolerating, because mammograms can detect the tiniest lumps that can’t be detected by any examination procedure.

What if it's Breast cancer?
You’ll obviously dread being told this by your specialist. However, this will only happen to 1 in 10 women with a breast lump (only 10% of breast lumps are breast cancer – 90% aren’t!).

So what should you do?
The answer is simple – you follow the advice of your specialist. Remember, your consultant spends all day every day dealing with breast cancer – they are experts in this field and they will work out what the best treatment is for your type of cancer.

The drugs used now such as Tamoxifen, Herceptin and Taxotere have transformed the future for women diagnosed with breast cancer.

Now if anyone in your family has had breast cancer under the age of 50, you may have an increased 'genetic' risk of developing breast cancer. The younger the age of your family member the greater the risk you may face – so if that is the case talk to your GP as soon as possible.

Search through my website here (thefamilyGP.com), there will be something here, somewhere, to help you. If not send me an email – details on the website.

Dr Chris.
This content was created on Thu 5 October 2006

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