How do you check breasts for lumps?

It is October again and that means the month of Pink Ribbon. This year they have designed a matching bracelet: the Omarmbandje, which not only looks very beautiful but also has a meaning that is at least as beautiful. This year, the Pink Ribbon month is entirely focused on self-love. We should all be a little kinder to ourselves. This bracelet is therefore here to support each other or yourself. Unfortunately, the chance is very high that someone in your environment is dealing with breast cancer: one in seven women gets it, after all.

But how much effort does it take to regularly do a breast check on yourself? Better safe than sorry, you would think. That became my intention, to check this more often on myself. But... How do you do that exactly?

I didn't know that at all and it made me quite restless. If I want to check that on myself, I must at least know what to look for, right? Yes, of course: if you see changes in yourself, it is wise to check them. However, you don't always see them with the naked eye, and when something grows gradually in yourself, you sometimes don't see it anymore.

So I ended up on the Pink Ribbon website, where they explain in detail what you should pay attention to during such a self-examination. Handy, but it doesn't exactly say how you should examine it. So, on with the search.

And who knows better than a doctor and where can you get better advice than from a hospital? Exactly. And so I ended up at the Antonius hospital, where they very conveniently explain step by step how you can check your breasts yourself. Good to do, even if you don't see any noticeable changes.

And those steps are as follows: 

1. You can best stand in front of a mirror.

2. Check your breasts with closed, straight fingers and make circular movements from the edge of the breast towards the nipple while applying some pressure.

3. Check the following things (side note: if you have large breasts, it is best to do this lying down):

• the difference in both breasts
• dents or dimples in the skin;
• deviations of the nipple or skin
• gently squeeze the nipple to see if any fluid comes out
• then raise your arms and see if there is any change in the shape and size of the breasts

4. Place your right hand under your head and examine your right breast with your left hand. Make small circular movements with your left hand while examining the entire breast. Start at the top left and then move to the bottom left, bottom right, and finish at the top right. Also feel around the nipple and check the nipple itself.

5. Lean forward and support the right breast with your right hand. Examine the breast with your left hand and make circular movements. Apply sufficient pressure.

6. Stay bent over and let your right arm hang down. Press the breast slightly towards the middle with the palm of your left hand. Examine the right armpit with straight fingers. Breast cancer often results in an enlargement of the lymph nodes, which feel like lumps. Start at the top of the armpit and let your fingers slide slowly down.

7. Check the nipple and the area around it again. The nipple should give way smoothly when you gently pull it forward.

8. Now examine the left breast in the same way.

Also good to know: the best time to do the self-check is after your period. Unless you are in menopause, then the timing doesn't make much difference.

Source: Antonius Zorggroep