Schedule to do a breast self-examination (BSE) once a month. You should become familiar with how your breasts look and feel so you can detect any changes.

Here are some guidelines on when to get started:

  • If you still menstruate, the best time to do BSE is two or three days after your period ends. These are the days when your breasts are least likely to be tender or swollen.
  • If you no longer menstruate, you can pick a certain day—such as the first day of each month—to remind yourself to do BSE.
  • If you are taking hormones, talk with your doctor about when to do BSE.

Step 1

  • Stand in front of a mirror that is large enough for you to see your breasts clearly.
  • Check each breast for anything unusual, such as skin that is puckering or dimpling, or has scaliness.
  • Look for a discharge from the nipples.

Steps 2 and 3

Do steps 2 and 3 to check for any change in the shape or contour of your breasts. As you do these next steps, you should feel your chest muscles tighten.

Step 2—Watching closely in the mirror, clasp your hands behind your head and press your hands forward.

Step 3—Press your hands firmly on your hips and bend slightly toward the mirror as you pull your shoulder and elbows forward.

Step 4

Step 4—Gently squeeze each nipple and look for a discharge.

Step 5

Step 5—While standing, raise one arm. Use the pads of the fingers of your other hand to check the breast and the surrounding area—firmly, carefully, and thoroughly. Some women like to use lotion or powder to help their fingers glide easily over the skin. Feel for any unusual lump or mass under the skin.

Feel the tissue by pressing your fingers in small, overlapping areas about the size of a dime. To be sure you cover your whole breast, take your time and follow a definite pattern: lines, circles, or wedges.

Some research suggest that many women do BSE more thoroughly when they use a pattern of up-and-down lines or strips. Other women feel more comfortable with another pattern. The important point is to cover the whole breast and to pay special attention to the area between the breast and the underarm, including the underarm itself. Check the area above the breast, up to the collarbone and all the way over to your shoulder.

Here are some tips on patterns that you can use:

  • Lines—Start in the underarm area and move your fingers downward little by little until they are below the breast. Then move your fingers slightly toward the middle and slowly move back up. Go up and down until you cover the whole area.
  • Circles—Beginning at the outer edge of your breasts, move your fingers slowly around the whole breast in a circle. Move around the breast in smaller and smaller circles, gradually working toward the nipple. Don't forget to check the underarm and upper chest areas, too.
  • Wedges—Starting at the outer edge of the breast, move your fingers toward the nipple and back to the edge. Check your whole breast, covering one small wedge-shaped section at a time. Be sure to check the underarm area and the upper chest.

Step 6

Step 6—In this step, you'll repeat step 5 while you are lying down. Lie flat on your back, with one arm over your head and a pillow or folded towel under the shoulder.

This position flattens the breast and makes it easier to check. Check each breast and the area around it very carefully using one of the patterns described above.

Step 7

Step 7—You may want to repeat step 5 in the shower. Your fingers will glide easily over soapy skin, so you can concentrate on feeling for changes underneath.

When to Contact Your Healthcare Provider

  • If you notice a lump, discharge, or any other change during the month, call your doctor.