Using your left hand, move the pads of your fingers around your right breast gently in small circular motions covering the entire breast area and armpit. Learn how to perform a breast self exam to check for lumps or other breast changes that may signal breast cancer. Breast self awareness bsa lie flat on your back with your left arm over your head and a pillow or folded towel under your left shoulder. Video breast self exam detects the majority of breast abnormalities potentially lifesaving monthly exam, at end of menses start in front of mirror inspect for.
After the menopause, or if you are pregnant, or nursing examine your breasts on the first day of the month. Checklist for breast examination to be completed by the. While a bse alone is not an appropriate screening tool for breast cancer, regular self exams can provide helpful information about your breast health when combined with mammography and regular physical exams steps to perform a breast self exam. A free powerpoint ppt presentation displayed as a flash slide show on id. Many experts now say that women should focus on breast self awareness instead of doing a breast self examination bse. The best time to do a breast selfexam is a few days after your monthly menstrual cycle ends. The method involves the woman herself looking at and feeling each breast for possible lumps, distortions or swelling. When to check your breasts you should check your breasts once a month during the week following your period.
Breast self exams are not a substitute for regular breast exams by a health care professional or f o r sc. Breast selfexamination is a procedure a woman can do to physically and visually examine her breasts and underarm areas for changes. Describe the essential steps in performing breast and pelvic examinations. While turning side to side, inspecting, take a mental note of. If you no longer have periods or your period is irregular, choose a specific day each month. Use the pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to check your right breast. This study evaluated the knowledge, attitude and practice of breast self examination bse, among female undergraduate students in the university of buea. Steps to breast selfexamination mission regional medical center. Breast cancer is the most prevalent form of cancer in ethiopia of all female cancers. How to examine your breasts the vale medical centre.
Effect of breast selfexamination education program on. Provide tips on how to make these examinations more comfortable for the woman. Breast self awareness about breast cancer statistics metastatic breast cancer breast cancer and men. Have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at age 20, and every year starting at age 40. D have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years starting at. We use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. Press using light, medium and firm pressure in a circular motion. Full text assessment of breast selfexamination practice. A breast selfexam is a checkup a woman does at home to look for changes or problems in the breast tissue. Modasta provides you authenticated health care articles, information and doctor videos. This allows the breast to flow over the chest wall so that the breast tissue is more easily felt.
What are the steps to follow for breast self examination. Over touch step one roll on to your right side and switch hands to check your left breast. Practices of breast selfexamination and associated. A breast selfexam is a womans examination of her breasts for any changes or abnormalities. The steps may be repeated while bathing or showering using soapy hands.
It is the most common cancer among women in arab countries with a young age of around 50 years. Performing these exams monthly can help you familiarize yourself with the look and feel of your. Also check the area above and below the collar bone. It may be easier and more comfortable if you put a pillow behind your shoulder or back. Feel for a hard lump, thickening or any change in your breast tissue. However, bse is not recommended as a screening tool for breast cancer. Following is a guide to performing a breast self exam bse.
The next part of breast self examination is performed in the shower, where the soapy, wet surface of the skin can make it easy to feel lumps. Below are instructions on how to perform a breast self exam. Become familiar with how your breasts, usually look and. Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting.
Contact your health care professional if you discover any changes. Introduction breast cancer is the most prevalent cause of cancer morbidity and mortality among women in most parts of the world 1. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Both men and women should perform a bse at least once each month beginning at age 18.
How to screen yourself for breast cancer pink hope. A breast self examination bse is a technique which allows an individual to examine hisher breast tissue for any physical or visual changes. It is often used as an early detection method for breast cancer. It may be normal for your breasts to feel a bit lumpy.
Blog, breast articles, breast self exam, cancer prevention by janicesalmon. However, experts do not agree about the benefits of breast self exams in finding breast cancer or saving lives. Use a mirror always begin checking your breasts by. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Assessment of breast self examination practice and its associated factors among female undergraduate students in addis ababa university, addis ababa, ethiopia, 2016 mikiyas amare getu, mesfin wudu kassaw, kenean getaneh tlaye, awet fitiwi gebrekiristos department of nursing, faculty of health science, woldia university, woldia, ethiopia background. A good way to remember to do this is to check just as your period ends or on the date of your birthday.
You may have lumpy breasts, one breast larger than the other, breasts that are different shapes, or one or both nipples that are pulled in inverted, which can be there from birth or happen when the breasts are developing. At the end of your monthly period, practice this breast self exam. Breast self examination in the shower is important because masses in the upper part of the breast are easier to detect while standing upright. Breast self examination, breast cancer, health education 1. When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Women should examine their breasts when they are least tender. Breast selfexamination bse you are looking for changes in your breasts. Roll on to your right side and repeat these steps on your left breast, using your right hand. How to do a bse long island, ny breast cancer nonprofit. Breast selfexamination bse is a screening method used in an attempt to detect early breast cancer. Ppt breast self exam powerpoint presentation free to.
Breast self examination bse do it for yourself breast self examination is an easy way and can be a useful tool in detecting for breast cancer early when it is most treatable early detection is the best defense against breast cancer. Breast selfexam to perform a breast selfexam for breast awareness, use a methodical approach that ensures you cover your entire breast. Breast self awareness messages include knowing your risk, getting screening, knowing what is normal for you and making healthy lifestyle choices. Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips. Do steps 2 and 3 to check for any change in the shape or contour of your breasts. Use three levels of pressure light, medium and firm while moving in a circular motion.
Breast selfexam bse is a step by step approach that a woman can use to look at and feel her breasts. Your breast should lie as flat on your chest as possible. The awareness of breast cancer preventive methods is therefore critical in the reduction of breast cancer morbidity and mortality. Breast selfexam facts a breast selfexam is a womans examination of her breasts for any changes or abnormalities. Breast self examination bse, performed at the same time each month, takes little time, costs nothing and can help you be aware of how your breasts normally look and feel. Below are 6 steps to follow while performing breast self examinations. A breast self examination bse is a step by step approach for checking your breasts for any abnormalities. Adult women of all ages are encouraged to perform breast self exams at least once a month. Breast self examination is an important prevention method of breast cancer. Lie down and roll on to your left side to examine your right breast.
Though most breast changes detected during a selfexam for breast. For instance, imagine that your breasts are divided into equal wedges, like pieces of a pie, and sweep your fingers along each piece in toward your nipple. Press using light, medium and firm pressure in a circle without lifting your fingers off the skin. At first glance, bse appears to be a simple, straightforward method to detect breast lumps and changes, using a systematic method of self. Learn how to do a breast selfexam bse to detect breast cancer. While standing in front of a mirror, place your arms on your hips, shoulders back away from your ears,stand straight and visually inspect your breasts. Breast self exams are an optional screening tool for women to check themselves for early signs of breast cancer. Alice nkangi, uganda jennifer omufwok, kenya dipo otolorin, nigeria. Guidelines for breast self examinations preparation. Breast self examination can be performed every month. Begin by looking at your breasts in the mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms on. We recommend that all women routinely perform breast self exams as part of their overall breast cancer screening strategy. Use the pads of three or four fingers of your right hand to examine your left breast.
For this reason, many medical organizations do not specifically recommend that women do breast self exams. First,you need to learn what is normal for your breasts. It is considered to be a progressive disease with a poor prognosis if detected late. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4. Use the pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to examine your right breast. Breast selfexam is a convenient, nocost tool that you can use on a regular basis and at any age. This should not be performed in the shower or with lotion on your skin or fingers. Hormonal changes can affect the size and feel of your breasts, so its best to perform the exam. To clarify the confusion surrounding breast awareness and breast self examination. Johns hopkins medical center states, forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast selfexam is very important. Although some women prefer to do breast selfexams, their value in detecting early cancers and in saving lives from breast cancer is controversial. The key to breast self awareness is knowing how your breasts normally look and feel. Download a pdf of the breast self exam english and spanish.
You should check for any change in the normal look or feel of your breasts on a monthly basis. This position flattens the breast and makes it easier to examine. Its important to learn what is normal for your breasts. Many women feel that doing this is important to their health. Though we will discuss with women how to do a breast self examination so that they have breast self awareness. Lie down on your back with a pillow under your right shoulder. Panzeras step by step guide on how to do a breast selfexam. Many women prefer to do steps d through f in the bath or shower. Below are instructions on how to perform a breast selfexam. You should check for any new place in your breast that feels thicker or harder than the rest of your breast. To explore the literature on breast selfexamination and breast awareness. To create your cards, include your agencys suggested steps for breast self examination or use text from other self exam shower cards that your agency distributes.
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