How to perform a breast self-examination?

Breast self-examination is an important method for women to detect breast abnormalities early. Regular self-examination can help identify breast changes and seek medical treatment in time.The main contents includeCheck timing, observe changes in appearance, touch techniquesandAbnormal signal identification.It is recommended to do it one week after the end of menstruation every month, when the breast condition is most stable.Self-examination is divided into two steps: "looking" and "touching". Pay attention to symmetry, abnormal appearance such as skin depression or redness, as well as tactile changes such as lumps and pain.If you find any abnormalities, you should seek medical treatment promptly to avoid panic self-diagnosis.

Step 1: Choose the right time and environment
Breast self-examination should be7-10 days after menstruation endsAs a result, hormone levels are stable and breast swelling is reduced.Choose a private space with sufficient light. You can stand or lie down. It is recommended to face the mirror and observe when standing. When lying down, you can put pillows under your shoulders to flatten your breasts.Keep your hands clean before the examination and avoid applying skin care products that interfere with touch.It is recommended to check on the same day every month to facilitate comparison of changes.

Step Two: Observe Appearance and Symmetry
facing the mirrorObserve breast contour, pay attention to whether both sides are symmetrical, and whether the skin has depressions (similar to orange peel), redness, swelling or ulcers.Observe the dynamic changes of the breasts while placing your hands on your hips, lifting or pressing your waist.Nipples should be inspected for inversion, discharge, or crusting.If you find that one breast suddenly enlarges, the nipple shifts, or the skin color changes, you should record the degree of change and seek medical consultation.

Step Three: System Touch Check Technique
useFingertips instead of fingertipsApply pressure to the breast and examine it in a clockwise spiral from outside to inside, or in a vertical direction from top to bottom in rows.The strength is divided into three levels: light, medium and heavy to ensure coverage of breast tissue (from collarbone to lower edge of bra, armpit to sternum).Pay special attention to the upper outer quadrant of the breast (near the armpit), where glands are densely packed and disease is common.During the examination, pay attention to whether there are hard lumps, thickened areas or tenderness, and squeeze the nipple to observe whether there is any discharge.

Exception signals and subsequent processing
If foundPainless lumps, skin dimpling, bloody dischargeOr if there are obvious changes in a short period of time, you need to see a doctor within 1-2 weeks.Pay attention to distinguish physiological masses (such as granular before menstruation) and pathological masses (fixed, unclear boundaries).Self-examination cannot replace medical examination. It is recommended to combine annual clinical physical examination and ultrasound/mammography examination.Recording self-examination results facilitates tracking and avoids excessive anxiety. About 80% of breast lumps are benign (data source:American Cancer Society 2022 Report).

Quote sources:
1. World Health Organization "Breast Cancer Prevention and Treatment Guidelines" (2021 Edition)
2. "Breast Health Handbook" by the Chinese Anti-Cancer Association
3. For clinical recommendations, refer to the palpation techniques of Dr. Lisa Jacobs of the Johns Hopkins University Breast Center.
4. Recommended breast self-examination tools:FormicaSelf-check card (Manufacturer: Shenzhen Carnation Medical Technology Co., Ltd.)