Women's Health

Look and Feel for Changes

1. Stand in front of a mirror and with your hands at your sides and compare for symmetry.

• Look for changes in:
  • Shape
  • Color
• Look for:
  • Dimpling
  • Nipple discharge
  • Skin changes
  • Puckering

2. Put both hands behind your head and check the front and side view.

• Look for:
  • Symmetry
  • Puckering
  • Dimpling

3. Put your hands on your hips, press down and bend forward.

• Look for:
  • Symmetry
  • General appearance
  • Nipple direction

4. Feel for changes in your breasts.

• Lie down with a towel under your right shoulder; raise your right arm above your head and examine the area from:
  • Underarm to lower bra line
  • Across to the breast bone
  • Up to the collar bone
  • Back to the armpit
    
• Use the pads of the three middle fingers of your left hand.
  
• Hold hand in bowed position.
  
• Move fingers in dime sized circles.
  
• Use three levels of pressure: light, medium and firm.
  
• Examine the entire area using the vertical strip pattern.
  
• Now check your left breast with your right in the same way. If there are any lumps, knots or changes, contact your doctor right away.

Alert Your Doctor if you notice any of following during your self-exam:

–A lump in your breast

–Unexplained pain in your breast

–A change in the size or shape of your breast

–A puckering or dimpling on your breast

–A change in position of a nipple

–A red or sore nipple

–A sudden discharge from one nimple

–Red, dry or scaling skin