5 steps of self-examination to detect breast cancer

Regular self-examination is an important way to detect breast cancer at an early stage.

>> 10 tips to prevent breast cancer

>> Symptoms and how to detect breast cancer

Self-examination steps to detect breast cancer at the earliest

Step 1: Begin by looking at the chest in front of the mirror in a straight shoulder position, with your hands on your hips .

Things to observe:

- Both sides have normal size, shape and color

- Both sides of the chest are regular shape, no deformity or swelling

If you see the following changes, you should see a doctor:

- Dents, wrinkles, or protrusions of the skin

- The nipple changes position or falls in

- Redness, ulcer, rash or swelling

Step 2: Raise your arm above your head and check the changes as above.

Step 3: While standing in front of a mirror, check for signs of drainage in one or both nipples (this may be water, milk, yellow fluid or blood).

Step 4: Next, check the chest in the supine position , use your right hand to palpate the left breast and left hand to touch the right breast, use the plane of the fingertips to close and shape in a circle shape. Check the entire breast from top to bottom, from the collarbone to the abdomen and from the armpit to the sternum.

Follow the sequence to make sure all the breasts are checked. It may start from the nipple, move in a larger circle until it reaches the outer edge of the breast.

You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, row by row like when cutting grass. This way seems to work best for most women.

Be sure to palpate the entire tissue from the front to the breast : with the skin and tissue just below the skin, apply mild pressure; use the medium force with the middle tissue; Use strong pressure with deep tissue. When reaching deep tissue, you need to feel the ribs.

Step 5: Finally, palpate the chest in a standing or sitting position . Many people find the easiest way to touch the breast is when the skin is still wet and slippery, so they like to take this step while bathing. Check the entire chest, using the hand movement as described in step 4.

Things to remember

1. Begin to test yourself once a month , not paying much attention to the lumps, but instead find out how different parts of the chest will normally look and feel. Taking notes will help you remember more.

2. Test yourself after the 'red light' is out for a few days , when your breasts are less stressed and more alert. For menopausal, choose a date that is easy to remember, such as the first or last day of the month.

3. You should only be concerned if a sudden lump appears and persists during a menstrual cycle , separate from the surrounding structure.

4. If abnormal tumors appear suddenly and persist for a while, getting bigger and bigger, visit a medical facility.