Breast Self Exam (BSE)Women discover most breast masses by themselves during the breast self-examination. This exam allows a woman to become more familiar with her breast, making the detection of subtle changes or abnormalities easier. It is important to remember that most masses discovered are not cancerous, but they should be brought to the attention of your health care provider.How Often And When Should BSE Be Done?Experts recommend monthly self-examination of the breasts. The BSE should be done 7-10 days from the beginning of your menstrual cycle. If your periods are not regular, perform the BSE on the same day each month.
How is the BSE done?
1. Start by standing in front of a mirror. Inspect each breast separately.
Note any asymmetry of size, contour, color, or shape.
2. Raise your hands over your head. Note any changes, particularly in the skin, such as wrinkling, dimpling, or retraction in a specific area.
3. Lie down with a pillow under your right shoulder and place your right arm behind your head.
4. Place the finger pads of the three middle fingers of the left hand on the outer part of your bare right breast.
5. Using small dime-sized circular motions without lifting your fingers, press first with light pressure then with medium pressure, and finally with firm pressure. You should be able to feel different layers of breast tissue using these different pressures. Make note of any masses or abnormalities that you feel.
6. In this same fashion, examine all areas of the breast and chest area from the collarbone to below the breast and including the armpit. You can do this by going in lines, circles around the nipple, or wedges from the nipple. Whichever method you choose, do it the same each time.
7. Once you are finished examining the breast, gently squeeze the nipple and look for any discharge. (Note: Overstimulation of the nipple may cause a normal discharge).
8. Switch positions and examine the left side in the same way.
When you do a breast self exam you could use use the Breast Chek Aid, which acts like a magnifying glass for your fingertips. The Breast Check Kit is a patented FDA cleared medical device that is recommended by over 99% of medical doctors surveyed. It's inexpensive, durable, washable, and reusable for both home and clinical use. The Breast Chek is just two very thin layers of polyurethane filled with non-toxic, environmentally safe gel. The fingers now glide over the skin, eliminating friction, and enabling you or your doctor to do a better breast exam. Our goal is to get one into the hands of every woman around the globe to help lower the death rates of Breast Cancer. Click Here to View Breast Self Exam Video(Compliments Imaginis.com)
I travel around the country quite frequently(one of the perks of my husband working for a major airline) and I am always struck by the flight attendants instructions that in case of a need to use the oxygen masks, we must put our own on first and then help our children put theirs on.
