Breast cancer is no more a rare disease. It is one the most common form of cancer found in women today and a reason for increased female morbidity and mortality. The only way to treat is an early diagnosis and self breast examination can help in making an early diagnosis. Regular breast self examinations can help a woman become familiar with the individual characteristics of their breasts and notice any changes, which can be narrated to your doctor at the earliest for prompt treatment.

What is to seen in a BSE?

• Breast pain, enlargement, or discomfort on one side only
• Redness on the breast
• Persistent itching of the nipple or breast
• Lump or thickening of the breast tissue
• Stabbing pain and/or soreness of the breast
• Higher temperature of the breast, like a fever
• Dimpling or puckering of the breast skin
• Flattening or retracting of the nipple
• Nipple discharge or a change in the areola (the pigmented area around the nipple)
• Swelling of the lymph nodes under the arm or above the collar bone

Many of these symptoms could be missed by a woman if she does not know her breasts well enough. Therefore, it is important to take time to familiarize yourself with your breasts through self examinations.

When is BSE to be done?

• In menstruating women, hormonal changes due to the menstrual cycle may make the breasts more lumpy or swollen. Therefore, women who are menstruating should perform BSE a few days to about a week after menses has ended as then the breasts are usually less tender or swollen.
• For women who are no longer menstruating should do their BSE on the same day every month. Pick a day that is easy to remember like the first or fifteenth of every month, and make that the day each month for breast self-exam.
• Women who are on oral contraceptives should do their BSE each month on the day they begin a new package of pills.
• Women can continue to perform breast self exams during pregnancy. Bur during pregnancy, clinical breast exams by your doctor should be performed on a monthly basis.

How to perform a BSE?

• Stand in front of a mirror and look at each breast separately and note the size, shape, colour, contour and direction of your breasts and nipples. Try to notice any of the above mentioned signs on breast and/or nipples.
• Raise your arms over your head and look at your breasts, as you turn slowly from side to side. See for any swelling or puckering of the skin.
• Lean forward and examine each breast for change in outline or dimpling of the skin.
• While examining your breasts in lying down position, use the left hand for the right breast and right and for the left breast.
• In the lying down position with the help on your three middle fingers tips, feel for any lumps or bumpy areas. While examining, apply firm pressure and make small circles as you go back or forth in a pattern covering all the breast area including the nipples. Look for any nipple discharge.
• Keep moving your hand across the nipple till you feel you have felt all parts of the breast.
• Extend the examination to the breast tissue in the underarm.
• Also, feel for lumps under and along the top of the collar bone.
• Change your hand and repeat BSE on the opposite breast.

Even if you had a breast cancer and were successfully treated, it does not relieve you from BSE as breast cancer is one of the cancers with a high recurrence rate. So, make BSE as a part of your routine to have a healthy busty life!