October isn’t just a time to dig into your costume bin or binge on candy. It’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or Pinktober. And that makes it the perfect time for every woman to perform a breast cancer self-exam.
Why breast cancer self-exams matter
Since it’s already a spooky time of year, we thought it would be a good time to highlight some eye-opening breast cancer statistics.
- More than 275,000 women — and 2,500 men — will be diagnosed with breast cancer this year
- The average American woman has a 13% chance of developing breast cancer. That means that roughly one in every eight women develop this disease at some point in their life
- Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death in women
We know these statistics are sobering, but there is good news here. When caught early, breast cancer is extremely treatable. In fact, if you catch the cancer before it spreads from your breasts, you have a 99% chance of surviving it.
Here’s the kicker: you can take a critical step to make sure that any unusual cell growth in your breasts gets caught right away. You do this by regularly performing a breast cancer self-exam.
During Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we want to underscore the importance of this routine, at-home checkup on your breast health. To help, let’s walk through how to do it.
How to perform a breast cancer self-exam at home
First things first, it’s important to know that you should be performing your breast cancer self-exam once a month.
Set a recurring event on your calendar or choose a day that’s easy to remember, like the first of each month.
Then, set aside a few minutes to go through these two steps. All you’ll need is a mirror.
#1: Perform a visual check
Look at your breasts. Get to know the shape and curvature. Then, during each monthly self-exam, look for changes. You want to look for:
- Swelling
- Dimpling
- Puckering
- Changes in your nipple, including inversion
- Redness
Start by visually checking your breasts with your arms at your sides. Then, raise them above your head and check your breasts again.
Also, while you’re at it, check to make sure neither of your nipples is emitting any fluid (unless you’re breastfeeding, of course).
#2: Perform two physical checks
Next, lay flat on your back. This allows your breast tissue to distribute evenly across your chest so you can feel lumps or any other oddities more easily.
Using the pads of your fingers, gently feel around each breast. Start all the way up at your collarbone and feel down to your ribcage. Then, feel from your armpit all the way across your chest.
Start by only applying light pressure, feeling the skin in your breasts. Then apply medium pressure, working to feel toward the middle of your breasts. Finish with firm pressure, so much so that you can feel your ribs underneath.
As you feel around, notice anything odd. Specifically, you want to feel for any lumps or knots. It’s normal for breasts to feel a little bit lumpy, but any specific spots you can pick out are worth talking about with your doctor.
During your first monthly breast cancer self-exam, you might feel a little like you’re flying blind. But as you get to know the normal feel of your breasts, you’ll be better able to pinpoint any changes.
The next time you’re in the shower, repeat this process while standing up.
There, you’re done! Make sure you perform your breast cancer self-exam on a monthly basis. If you notice any changes, talk to your doctor right away. Stay on top of this at-home preventive care and you can help to protect yourself.
Physical health is an important part of your overall wellness, but so is your mental health. If you’re looking for help there, please don’t hesitate to contact our team at the Ventura Counseling & Wellness Center. Call or email us to schedule a telehealth appointment with one of our therapists.
