The regular breast self examination by palpation is an easy method which allows to detect breast diseases. However, in order to be effective you have to know the feel and the texture of your breast. Since the consistency of breast tissue depends on the menstrual cycle phase, it is helpful to carry out your regular self exam during the first days after menstrual bleeding has ceased. This is the time period when your breasts are least sensitive and you are most likely to feel newly developed lumps. If you have already entered menopause, simply try to perform your monthly breast exam at the first day of every month. This will allow you to maintain a regular frequence.
Stand in front of a mirror and look at your breasts. Have they changed in form or in size since your last exam? Do you see dents or bumps? Does the skin resemble the surface of an orange (»peau d´orange«)? Does the breast appear inflamed or discoloured? Is one of the nipples retracted?
Now raise your arms and watch your breasts again. Look at both breasts as they follow the movement. Can you now see dents or bumps?
Now carefully palpate the left breast with the right hand. Skim along the breast in a clockwise fashion and palpate the entire breast with your fingers. Press the breast tissue against the ribs in order to better feel novel breast lumps. Try to follow the breast tissue until its delineation in the axilla. Palpate the right breast with the left hand in the same way.
Slide your breast between both hands back and forth. How does the tissue feel that is located directly beneath the nipple? The breast tissue of some women feels coarse and irregular. This is usually not a reason for concern. A newly developed, rigid, and poorly delineated tumor, however, should be further evaluated by your gynecologist.
Now palpate the axilla with the contralateral hand. This is the area where lymp nodes can be identified if they are enlarged due to an inflammation or a malignant tumor of the breast.
Finally, an important advice: do not aggressively attempt to search for novel tumors but rather consider the breast self exam a possibility to »get to know« your breasts. If you regularly perform this examination you will surely identify suspicious alterations almost without any effort.
