Breast Self-Examination
Overview: Breast self-exam is a way you can check your breasts for any signs that could mean cancer. Breast self-exam, together with regular mammograms and breast exams by your doctor, is the best way to find a lump early. When breast cancer is found early it’s easier to treat and cure.
Stand in front of a mirror with you arms at your sides and look at your breasts. Have the size or shape changed? Is there any dimpling or puckering? Has the color of the skin or nipples changed? Do you have sores or scaly skin on or around the nipple? Do you have a discharge from either nipple with or without squeezing? Check again with arms raised above your head; and again with hands on hips, bending slightly forward. See your doctor if the answer is “yes” to any of these questions.
Second, check how your breasts feel. Start by putting one hand behind your head. Check your left breast with your right hand. Check your right breast with your left hand. Pretend there are straight lines on your breast. Using the flat ends of three or four fingers, feel your breasts a little at a time, in small, dime-size circles. Move your fingers down along a straight line from right under your arm to the bottom of your breast. Move your fingers up the next line until you get to the top. Repeat until you’ve checked your whole breast. Repeat on your other breast.
By performing self breast- exams you will get to know how your breasts feel and can identify any changes. Check your breasts at the same time every month right after your period.
What Thielen Student Health Center Can Do For You: Women are encouraged to perform a self breast exam once every month or so, to become familiar with their own breast tissue and to reduce the chance that changes may be missed.
Potential signs of trouble may include a solid lump that can’t be moved, a lump that stays the same throughout your menstrual cycle or a lump, knot, or thickening that is new. If you do notice any of these symptoms you should be seen by your health care provider.
Thielen Student Health Center also has information available on breast self-examination. Please call 294-5801 with any questions or to make an appointment with a health care provider. The Prevention, Education and Outreach (PEO) Office, located in the TSHC Wellness Center, can also provide sexual health education for students who seek it; they can be reached at 515.294-1868.
Resources
Last update: 09 Dec 2008
For more information, please contact:
Iowa State University
Thielen Student Health Center
515-294-5801
