This post is published in conjunction with the Breast Cancer Awareness month. Please note that information presented in this article was extracted and adapted from various sources in the Internet, and that you are advised to consult your doctor for more information.

Admittedly, I am not one of those who religiously examines herself for abnormalities on her breasts partly because I wasn’t given a proper (and formal) lesson on how to do it, and partly due to ignorance. You know, those thoughts that sound like, “It will never happen to me..” However, the more I research for my Breast Cancer Awareness posts, the more I realize that performing breast cancer examinations (BSE) every month not only increases the survival rates of a patient (due to early detection), in fact, it is quick and FREE, it is hassle-free which means no help is needed at all, and you get to know your breasts!

OK, so how do I perform BSE?

1. Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. If you see any of the following changes, bring them to your doctor’s attention:

   * dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin
   * a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out)
   * redness, soreness, rash, or swelling

2. Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
3. While you’re at the mirror, gently squeeze each nipple between your finger and thumb and check for nipple discharge (this could be a milky or yellow fluid or blood).
4. Next, feel your breasts while lying down. Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. Be sure to feel all the breast tissue: just beneath your skin with a soft touch and down deeper with a firmer touch. Begin examining each area with a very soft touch, and then increase pressure so that you can feel the deeper tissue, down to your ribcage.
5. Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower.

For more information on breast self examinations, please visit these sites:

• The Five Steps of a Breast Self-Exam @ BreastCancer.org
• Breast Self Exam
• Breast self-exams: One way to detect breast cancer @ MayoClinic
• How to Perform a Breast Self-Exam @ American Cancer Society
• Breast Self-Exam @ WomensHealth.gov

More on the Breast Cancer Awareness series:

• Breast cancer?! What?!
• Breast cancer-related statistics
• Breast cancer: Examine yourself
• Risk factors for breast cancer
• Breast cancer symptoms
• Breast cancer treatments
• Breast cancer news