Although breast cancer is a frightening and sometimes lethal disease, regular breast exams will help you catch the disease early and increase your chances of a full recovery. Regular exams (once a month) will help you to learn the shape and feel of your breasts. This will make any potentially cancerous changes more apparent. It is especially important to check the lymph nodes surrounding your breasts. If you have a cancerous lump, it may spread to the nearby lymph nodes and cause swelling.
Instructions
Examination Process
1. Look at your breasts in a mirror. Note if there are any visual changes. Make sure you view your breasts from all angles and also raise up your arms to see if you notice any changes in your underarms. The underarms have many lymph nodes. Thus, visible underarm swelling is a potentially serious warning sign.
2. Lie on a flat surface and raise your arms over your head.
3. Place the tips of your index, middle and ring fingers onto your breasts. Feel all over the breast surface. Adjust pressure throughout this breast "sweep." Note any tactile changes to your nipple. Make note of any changes you feel to your breast surface and whether you detect lumps or growths.
4. Feel under your arms for palpable lymph nodes. The human body has lymph nodes all over, especially in the breast region. Lymph nodes swell in response to minor infections, cuts and injuries. However, lymph nodes may also swell because a cancerous lump has spread to the lymph nodes. The armpit lymph nodes are the ones most likely to swell due to nearby lumps.
5. Note the consistency and size of any lymph nodes you feel. If you detect any large, hard lymph nodes near your underarms, feel the immediate areas near the hard lymph node for detectable breast lumps. Even if you can't locate any nearby lumps, visit a doctor immediately for further evaluation.
Tags: lymph nodes, lymph nodes, your breasts, your arms, breast surface, cancerous lump
