October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and it's a critical time to remind women to do their monthly breast self-exams. Along with scheduling mammograms at your doctor's office, this preventative measure can help you spot any concerns before they become problematic. When breast cancer is detected early, it increases your likelihood of surviving the next five years by 99%. Here is a guide to how to give yourself a breast exam.

How to Do a Breast Self-Exam at Home

1. Manual Examination Standing 

It's likely you've had a breast exam in your doctor's office before, but you may not be sure how to do one yourself. While standing, use your opposite hand to examine each breast. Using three fingers, press into the tissue, feeling for lumps, knots, thickened areas, and anything else that feels new or unusual. 

Starting with a light pressure, gradually increasing to more firm compression, cover every inch of skin on your breast and underarm area where the lymph nodes are located. Finally, gently squeeze your nipple to check for discharge before checking the other side. 

2. Visual Examination 

A visual examination is done without a shirt or bra on, using a large mirror. Standing with your shoulders squarely facing forward, look for any unusual changes in shape or color, swelling, redness, dimpling, puckering, pitting, or nipple inversions. Stand in three different positions while looking for telltale signs; arms relaxed at your sides, arms straight over your head and with your hands on your hips, flexing your chest muscles. 

3. Manual Examination Lying Down 

It's important to examine your breasts in different positions because the tissue spreads differently depending on the position the body is in. An examination lying down is especially helpful for assisting women with larger breasts. 

To start, put a pillow or towel under one shoulder. Take the hand on the same side and put it behind your head. Using the opposite hand, examine your breast using the same method you practiced standing.

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