A few minutes a month, a mirror and three fingers are all you need to get to know your breasts. Here is how to check for changes, which warning signs warrant medical attention, and why seeking help early matters.
Many women who feel something unusual in a breast quietly hope it will disappear and tell no one, but that silence is the most harmful response of all. A problem that would have been far easier to treat had it been noticed sooner can become a costly one with every month of delay.
The alternative takes a few minutes each month, a mirror, three fingers, and a willingness to act on what you find. Women were once encouraged to examine their breasts every month as part of a routine screening regimen.
The advice has been refined over the years, but its central idea remains sound. Looking at and feeling your own breasts regularly teaches you what is normal for you, and that makes it far easier to notice when something changes.
Here is how to do it properly, and what to do next.
First, choose your moment because timing makes a real difference. The best moment falls three to five days after your period ends. Your breasts are then at their least tender and swollen, and the tissue feels softer and more even. Genuine abnormalities in shape, size, or texture are much easier to pick out from the ordinary changes that come with your cycle.
If you no longer have periods, or your cycle is irregular, choose a date that is easy to remember, such as the first of the month, and keep to it.
Skin that pulls, puckers or shifts in an unusual way when you change position is a sign that something may be wrong
Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders straight and your hands resting on your hips. Check that both breasts are a similar shape and size, that the skin colour looks consistent, and that there is no swelling anywhere.
Now raise your arms overhead and look again. Watch how your breasts behave as you move. They should sit steadily in place. Skin that pulls, puckers, or shifts in an unusual way when you change position is a sign that something may be wrong. Then turn sideways. Changes in the contour of the breast show up far more clearly in profile than from the front.
Use the flat pads of your three middle fingers, not the tips. Examine the right breast with your left hand and the left breast with your right. Press firmly but comfortably, and work in a steady, methodical pattern that covers the entire breast without skipping any area. Continue all the way up to the armpit, because breast tissue extends there too.
You are searching for a small, distinct object beneath the skin. Give the upper and lower parts of the breast equal care because a lump can hide in either, and it is easily missed if you concentrate on only one area. Gently check whether any fluid or discharge comes from the nipples.
Next, lie down, ideally with a pillow under the shoulder on the side you are checking. The tissue spreads out evenly across your chest, which gives your fingers a clearer picture of what lies beneath. Many women finish with a final check in the shower, where soap helps the fingers glide smoothly over the skin and makes subtle differences easier to detect.
Every woman should still have a clinical breast examination by a trained health worker once a year
Finding a lump does not automatically mean that you have cancer, and most breast lumps turn out to be harmless. A small lump that moves freely under your fingers is often less worrying, although it still deserves a doctor’s attention. A lump that stays fixed in one place and slowly becomes harder over time is more concerning. Any lump that persists, whatever it feels like and however small it seems, should be examined by a health professional.
So do not wait to see whether it goes away. Go to a health facility. Nothing is more valuable than your health, and an early visit can change everything that follows. A clinician will examine you and, if needed, refer you for imaging such as an ultrasound or mammogram, and sometimes a biopsy, to establish what the lump is.
Some changes call for medical attention straight away. They include dimpling or puckering of the skin, a nipple that has turned inward, unexplained redness or a rash, a hard lump near the underarm, bloody discharge, and persistent itching or sores on the breast or nipple.
Self-examination does not replace a professional check. Every woman should still have a clinical breast examination by a trained health worker once a year. The monthly self-check is the careful routine that keeps you familiar with your body in the months between those visits.
The aim of self-examination is not to frighten yourself; it is to make breast self-awareness a regular part of your wellness routine
The DearYou app, which is completely free to download and use, is designed to support that routine. It offers a detailed step-by-step guide to self-examination and explains each stage clearly. It also lets you log your results and carry out a monthly exam, so that any change is caught early enough to make a difference.
DearYou, developed by The DEAR Foundation Switzerland, a non-profit organisation, guides you through these steps with a demonstration video and a section on warning signs. You can log the result of each monthly check, track your cycle to choose the right days, and keep notes on your emotional wellbeing.
The aim of self-examination is not to frighten yourself. It is to make breast self-awareness a regular part of your wellness routine, so that any change is noticed quickly and acted upon without hesitation.
That applies to men too. Breast cancer is far less common in men, but it does occur, and a lump, a turned-in nipple, discharge, or skin changes deserve the same prompt attention.
Done consistently, those few minutes each month give you the best possible chance of catching a problem while it is most treatable. If you notice any change in your breasts, see a doctor promptly.
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