Breast self-awareness: The importance of examining your breasts

In the past, physicians emphasized monthly breast self-exams, but research has led them to encourage women to practice breast self-awareness instead. Examining your breasts familiarizes you with how your breasts normally look and feel. Our San Antonio OBGYNs explain the whole process.

What is breast self-awareness?

Our physicians encourage you to get to know your breasts. Spend time looking at yourself in the mirror from different angles. Take note of how your breasts look, including the skin’s appearance and how the nipples look.

Do you notice discharge coming from your nipples? Does the size or shape of your breasts look different? If you do a visual inspection regularly, it’s easier to visually notice changes and report them to your physician. You can visually examine your breasts often as part of self-awareness.

Examining your breasts can help detect changes

Breast self-awareness means getting comfortable with your body. Part of getting to know your breasts is noticing how they feel. This is where self-examination comes in. After you look in the mirror to see if there are changes, it’s time to physically examine your breasts. Here are the steps you should take when examining the breast tissue to see how it normally feels.

• Raise your arm slightly so you can feel your armpit area. See if there are knots or lumps.
• Lie down and put a towel or pillow under one shoulder. Raise that arm and place it behind your head. Use the three middle fingers to feel your breast. Move your hand in small circles, using pressure to search for changes. Repeat on the other side.
• Stand up and move your fingers vertically on the breast to detect changes.

Perform physical breast exams when your breasts aren’t swollen or tender, usually a few days after you menstruate.

What to do if you notice changes

Practicing good breast self-awareness is not just about regularly checking for breast changes, but also proactively reaching out for help when something isn’t right.

If you do notice a change, please don’t panic. Simply call our San Antonio OBGYNs to schedule an appointment, and let them use their skill and expertise to make a diagnosis. Eight out of 10 times, a lump isn’t malignant and may just be a sign of another noncancerous issue.

Our San Antonio OBGYNs are here to help

Being aware of your breasts’ normal shape, size and appearance by examining your breasts is a critical part of breast cancer prevention. If you practice breast self-awareness, and schedule annual wellness exams and mammograms, you are doing the very best things for your breast health.

If you are confused about any of the steps involved in caring for your breasts, our physicians are happy to talk it through with you. Contact us for an appointment.