Regular breast self-check helps you learn what is normal for your own body and notice changes earlier. It does not replace screening, but it can help you spot a new change between screening rounds or before screening age.
How to do it#
Check the breasts once a month. Many people find it easiest a few days after a period, when the breasts are less tender. After menopause, any regular day works.
Look in the mirror and then feel the breasts with your fingertips, including the area up to the armpits and near the collarbone. You are looking for new lumps, skin changes, nipple changes or a difference that was not there before.
What is normal#
Breasts are often naturally uneven, lumpy or tender at certain points in the cycle. The point is not to find perfectly smooth tissue. The point is to know your own usual pattern well enough to notice a new one.
What changes matter#
A new clear lump, skin dimpling, a nipple pulling inward, bloody discharge, redness, scaling or a new lump in the armpit should be checked. Many findings are benign, but they are worth sorting out rather than repeatedly checking at home.
When to seek care#
Seek care if you find a new lump that does not go away, bloody nipple discharge, skin dimpling, a clear change in breast shape, or a new armpit lump. Seek care also if you are worried that the change is simply not typical for you.
Further reading and sources#
Further reading: