Manual Breast Examination

Perform a breast self-examination once a month to familiarise yourself with what is normal for your body.

Did You Know?

- If you menstruate, the best time to check is 3 to 5 days after your period ends, when your breasts are least swollen.

- If you are post-menopausal, pick a specific, easy-to-remember day (eg. the 1st of the month) to check consistently.

- 80-90% of detected lumps are non-cancerous.

How to Perform a Self-Examination

1. Visual Check (in front of a mirror)

- Stand with your shoulders straight and arms on your hips. Look at your breasts in the mirror to check that they are their usual size, shape, and colour, without any visible swelling, dimpling, or puckering.

- Lift your arms overhead and look for the same changes.

- Nipples - look for any redness, soreness, or changes in direction (e.g., a nipple suddenly pulling inward).

2. Manual Check

- It is easiest to examine all breast tissue while lying flat on your back with a pillow or folded towel under your shoulder and the hand on that same side placed behind your head.

- Use the flat pads (not the tips) of the three middle fingers of your opposite hand.

- Press down using three levels of pressure - light (for skin and surface tissue), medium (for deeper tissue), and firm (for tissue closest to the chest wall and ribs).

- Move your fingers in a thorough pattern, such as small circles (about the size of a coin), vertical up-and-down lines, or a wedge shape. Ensure you cover the entire area from your collarbone down to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your breastbone.

- Breast tissue extends up into your armpit, so make sure to feel that area as well.

- Gently squeeze each nipple to check for any unusual discharge.

What To Look For

Be aware of any new lumps, hard knots, thickened tissue, dimpling, redness, scaling, or localised pain that does not go away after your next cycle. If you notice any changes, do not panic - many changes are benign or related to hormonal shifts, but you should schedule an appointment with your doctor or primary healthcare clinic to be safe.

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