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Looking after your breasts

By Sarah Clark

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Prevention is better than cure

Just as we should all have regular smear tests for cervical cancer, visit the dentist for checkups and generally make sure that we are as healthy as possible - it's very important that we carry out a breast examination regularly too. It takes only 10 or 15 minutes, its best carried out once a month (ideally at the same point in your cycle, to take account of any hormonal changes), and once you learn how to do it, and get into the habit, it will become second nature. It's a crucial self-help procedure that might just save your life.

The Examination

Examining your breasts should be a two-stage process, firstly, a visual check, and then the manual examination. Your breasts may feel different depending on the time of the month and your age and life stage (menopause, pregnancy etc). Get to know your own breasts, how they look and feel, and then you will be able to quickly identify anything unusual.

The main signs that you're looking for are;

• Changes in the size, shape or feel of your breasts.
• One breast appearing lower than the other - if this is not usual for you
• A change in the size of one breast - again if this isn't a normal pre-menstrual symptom.
• Changes in skin texture anywhere on the breast
• Puckering or pulling in the skin on the breast
• Thickening or unusual lumps anywhere on the breast

Changes in your nipples

• Changes to the shape of the nipples
• A rash around the nipple
• Discharge from a nipple

The Visual Check

Stand in front of the mirror and with your hands clasped together behind your head, straighten and lower your arms a few times to see if the nipples on both of your breasts move in the same way.

Look at your breasts in profile - can you see anything unusual? Check for rashes, puckering and any signs mentioned above. Then do the same straight on, bending forward to check for anything unusual.

continue...