Breast Self-Examination Key to Surviving Cancer

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and is the perfect time to begin monthly breast self-exams if you're not already doing them. A breast self-exam can save your breast -- and your life. All women should check their breasts every month for lumps, thicknesses or other changes, as well as discharge from the nipples. By examining your breasts regularly, you are more likely to know how your breasts feel normally and to identify any changes.

Check your breasts about one week after your period when they are not tender or swollen, or on the same day every month.

While standing, look at your breasts in a mirror to notice any changes in how they appear, such as redness or swelling, dimpling or puckering of the skin, and changes or crusting of the nipples. Compare your right breast to your left breast. They should look about the same and the nipples should face in the same direction.

While sitting or standing, put your left arm behind your head. Use the pads on the first three fingers of the right hand to examine your left breast. Move your hand around in circles, making sure not to miss any area of the breast. Pressure should be firm but not enough to cause pain. After examining the entire breast, squeeze the nipples from various angles to see if there's a discharge.

Put your left arm down and examine the left armpit with the right hand. Then examine your right breast and armpit in the same manner with your left hand. You may want to do part of the self-exam while showering because some breast changes can be felt more easily when your skin is wet and soapy. Lastly, perform the entire self-exam while lying down, making sure you don't miss any areas. Move your hand around the breast in a set pattern and do the exam in the same way each time.

While a firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal, tell your doctor immediately if you find lumps, thickenings, changes or nipple discharge. Most breast lumps are not cancerous, but only a physician can tell for sure. Breast cancer may be successfully treated with breast-conservation procedures if you find it early.

The American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) recommends that women between ages 20 and 39 also have a clinical breast exam by their health care provider at least once every three years. He or she can demonstrate the proper breast self-exam technique, as well. Women ages 40 and over should have a mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year. Women over age 65 are at the greatest risk of breast cancer. And if you have a family history of breast cancer, discuss mammography screening guidelines with your health care provider.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.