Women’s Breast

How you can help prevent
WOMEN’S BREAST CANCER

Your Self chec Keeping Healthy Guide

Examining your breasts every month and having a mammogram and clinical breast exam by your doctor every year could save your breast and your life..

You are your body’s best friend. Checking your breasts monthly makes you more familiar with what “normal” feels like, enabling you to notice any changes that may take place.

What to do
Set a time each month to check your breasts, about a week after your period ends. If you no longer get your period, set the same day aside each month to check.

Beginning at age 20, get a Clinical Breast Exam every three years. If you have a family history of breast cancer, please also ask your doctor about getting a mammogram earlier than these guidelines specify.

Do a Breast Self-check every month.
By checking your breasts frequently, you will be the best one to notice any changes that may take place.

Beginning at age 40,
Get a Mammogram and Clinical Breast Exam every year. Continue doing your monthly Breast Self-check.

View the video below and/or print the Self chec How-to-Guide. Become more proactive and empower yourself towards a healthier life.
We are grateful to Videojug.com for permitting Self chec to share this very important video with you.

Your Breast VIDEO how-to-guide

Your breast PRINT how-to-guide
Before you start Pick A Motion (pam)

The best way to check you breasts each month is to pick one motion you will use every time you do your Breast Self-check, (please refer to the box at right)). Using the same motion will insure that you will pick up any changes in your breasts that may occur.

Now you’re ready to start.

Step One: Lying down

1) Place a folded towel or pillow under your right shoulder.

2) Place your right hand behind your head.

3) Use the inner pads of the three middle fingers of your left hand, (see red circled area). PAM, feeling for any lumps or thickening (see box at right).

4) Continue examining your breast. Feel for any changes in the upper and outer parts, below and above your breast and in your upper chest area. Continue up to your collarbone and in and around your armpit area.

Take your time. When you are done, repeat each step on your left breast.

Step Two: Before a mirror (or in the shower)

Diagram A) Arms at your sides, using your PAM, motion, feel for any changes in the upper and outer parts,and below and above your breast in your upper chest area.

Continue up to your collarbone and in and around your armpit area.

Diagram B) Arms behind your head, check your
breasts for changes in the size, shape and color.

Diagram C) Arms pressed firmly against hips, bending forward, look for puckering, dimpling. rash, nipple discharge or any other change that does not seem normal.

This Breast Self-check is not a substitute for seeing your doctor yearly. To be effective, breast cancer early detection must combine 1) Monthly Breast check, 2) Regular Clinical Exam and 3) Yearly Mammogram (if over age 40 or in a high risk group).

If you find something suspicious CLICK HERE

Illustrations may not be reproduced in any form without the express consent of

Fairman Studios, LLC and Self chec, Inc.

IMPORTANT: The information on the cancer pages of this site was culled by the director of Self chec and initially reviewed by the folks at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, based on the newest information from the national cancer advisory organizations, including, but not limited to, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and American Cancer Society. We recognize that the national cancer advisory organizations sometimes do not agree about specific cancer guidelines, often making it confusing to the public about what to do. That is why we are asking you to err on the side of caution by always consulting a healthcare professional to advise you in the healthy choices you will make. Thank you.

Join the conversation about Women’s Breast Cancer:

Varenne Y
August 27th, 2010 at 3:10 pm

DON’T TAKE THE GIFT OF LIFE FOR GRANTED
My sister was diagnosed with breast cancer at age 54 and died just before her 60th birthday. We miss her so much! During the last 12 years, I’ve had 3 operations for the removal of breast tumors. Two were found due to my monthly self breast exams. Thank God, all were benign. I never miss my annual mammography exams or doing monthly self exams. I have a lot to live for… two absolutely beautiful daughters, great family and friends and a wonderful man in my life.

Don’t take the gift of life for granted — schedule your annual check-ups and definitely do monthly “self-checks”!

Madhu M
August 27th, 2010 at 3:15 pm

SELF-CHECKING AND SELF CHEC ARE SO IMPORTANT
I’m doing fine. What a curveball! I had a mammogram and routine breast exam in December. Mammogram showed nothing but the doctor pointed out a couple of lumps she said I should have checked out. Scheduled another mammogram in June, by which time I noticed that one of the lumps had doubled, not in size, but it had become two lumps. Still, the June mammogram showed nothing! But I told them that the lump had doubled, so they did a sonogram and lo and behold! There it was. It looked just like it felt. Two little lumps, connected, kinda like dumbbells. Amazing. Anyway, so they did a core needle biopsy and found that it was cancer. Had a lumpectomy. Went to India to see my parents for two weeks. Got back. Now I’m starting radiation and tamoxifen. It’s SO important to know your body. Had I not noticed the change in my breast, I could have been in a much different situation.

2 Comments to “Women’s Breast”