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Self Examination of the Female Breast
English
How to begin
Step in front of a large mirror with the upper body unclothed
and relax. Direct your attention to your breast with your arms
relaxed at your sides. Slowly turn in both directions to exami-
ne your chest from a diagonal perspective and from the side.
Also bend down. Is there anything unusual? Upon taking
a closer look you might find differences in shape, size or
position of both breasts: they are usually not exactly symme-
trical. In the course of the monthly examinations you should
become so familiar with the look of your breasts that you will
immediately notice any changes and anomalies.
What to look for
Now place your hands on your hips and look at yourself from
the front again and then turn to both sides. Are there chan-
ges in comparison to the previous month regarding shape
and position of your breasts? Have their size or look chan-
ged? Compare both sides! Are there any retractions or protru-
sions of the skin? Watch out for any redness or discoloration.
Are there any fine skin protuberances („orange skin")? Do not
forget the area of the fold below your breast. If you notice
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any of the described or other changes which persist throug-
hout the menstrual cycle please consult your gynecologist.
Examination
Slowly lift up your arms several times and clasp your hands
behind the neck: Do both breasts follow the upward move-
ments of your arms in a regular way or does one of the
breasts not follow these movements as usual? Can the breast
tissue be easily shifted against the chest wall? Please check
for any changes of your nipples and their areolae: has any
redness or inversion occurred recently? Are both nipples
approximately at the same height? Carefully check that no
liquid can be squeezed out of the nipple.
Palpation in Upright Position
Begin with the self-examination of your breast while you are
standing. You can also examine your breast in the shower or
after applying oil to the skin. You can practice your examina-
tion skills! With your pointer, middle and ring fingers of one
hand together, place the fingertips flatly onto the skin of the
breast on the other side. First perform palpation of the tissue
with slight, then increasing pressure against the chest wall
or the palm of your other hand. In this way you can feel the
layers both at the surface and at greater depth. Also repeat
the examination while lifting up the elbow, placing the hand
in the neck.
Also check the armpits for lumps or hardness, first while
the arm is hanging down loosely, then while lifting it up. By
the way, disorders which do not concern the breast can also
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