How often should I examine my breasts myself?
December 6, 2022 | 40,00 EUR | answered by Sandra Siebert
Dear Doctor,
My name is Andrea Hinze and I am 35 years old. Lately, I have been hearing a lot about breast cancer in the media and I am worried about my health. I have read that it is important to regularly check your breasts yourself to detect any changes early. However, I am unsure how often I should do this and what I should be looking out for.
Currently, I feel healthy and have no complaints in my breasts. However, I want to take a proactive approach and ensure that I am monitoring my health as best as possible. Therefore, it is important for me to know how often I should self-examine my breasts to detect potential issues early.
Could you please recommend how often I should self-examine my breasts and what signs I should be looking for? Are there specific techniques I can use to detect changes in my breasts? And if I notice something unusual, what should I do?
Thank you in advance for your help and support. I look forward to hearing from you and am grateful for any advice you can provide.
Sincerely,
Andrea Hinze
Dear Andrea Hinze,
Thank you for your message and your interest in your health. It is very commendable that you are actively taking care of your health and thinking about early detection of breast cancer. It is indeed very important to regularly examine your breasts yourself in order to detect changes early.
In general, it is recommended that women from the age of 20 perform a self-examination of their breasts once a month. It is best to do this about one week after the start of your menstruation, as your breasts are least sensitive at this time. If you no longer menstruate, you can choose a fixed day each month for the self-examination.
During the self-examination, it is important to look out for changes such as lumps, swelling, hardening, changes in the skin, nipple discharge, or changes in breast shape or size. If you notice any of these abnormalities, it is important to promptly see a doctor to determine if it is something serious.
There are various techniques you can use for the self-examination. A common approach is to stand in the shower or in front of a mirror with your arms raised and palpate your breasts in circular motions. Apply light pressure with your fingertips on the breast tissue and look for any changes. Repeat this also while lying down.
If you notice something unusual, it is important to stay calm and promptly schedule an appointment with a gynecologist. Your doctor will then perform further tests such as a mammogram or ultrasound to determine if it is a serious condition.
I hope this information is helpful to you. Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have any further questions or need more advice. Your health is important and it is good that you are taking care of it.
Best regards,
Sandra Siebert
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