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 How to perform a Self Breast Exam It is important to examine your Breasts each month past age 20. Breasts become larger and firmer during pregnancy in preparation for breast-feeding. Familiarize yourself with the normal feel of your breasts so that you can detect changes such as enlargement of a lump. Report any changes in your breasts to a health professional. Since men can get Breast Cancer too, they can benefit from self-examination. The following is a recommended procedure for SBE (Self-Breast-Examination): - While standing and looking in the mirror, raise your hands over your head and press them together. Notice the shape of your breasts. Place your hands on your hips, apply pressure, and look for irritation or dimpling of the skin, nipples that seem to be out of position, one breast that looks different from the other, swelling in the portion of the breast, nipple pain, an inward curve of the nipple, a discharge from the nipple (other than breast milk), or red scaling or thickening of the skin and nipples.
- Raise one arm above your head. With the other hand, firmly explore your breast. Beginning at the outer edge, using a circular motion, gradually work toward the nipple. Take your time when examning the area between the nipple and the armpit, and feel the armpit as well. You have lymph nodes in the armpit; they move freely and feel soft, and are not painful to touch. Look for lumps that are hard and not mobile. Cancers are often attached to underlying muscle or the skin. When you have finished examining one breast, repeat this on the other side.
- Lie down on your back and repeat step 2. Lumps may be more easily detected in this position. Also, squeeze each nipple gently to check for blood or a watery yellow or pink discharge.
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