Breast Cancer: How to Conduct a Self-Examination at Home? 5 Steps to Know

Every time a public personality is diagnosed with a disease, there is a lot of buzz that gets created it around. There is a sudden surge on search rate about the disease. Similarly, when actress Hina Khan announced that she is currently battling with stage three cancer on Friday, several people are trying to gather as much knowledge about it.

Breast cancer is an abnormal growth of breast cells that go on to form tumours. When not checked on time, it may spread throughout the body and become fatal. “Breast cancer cells begin inside the milk ducts and/or the milk-producing lobules of the breast. The earliest form (in situ) is not life-threatening and can be detected in early stages. Cancer cells can spread into nearby breast tissue (invasion). This creates tumours that cause lumps or thickening,” stated World Health Organisation (WHO).

Awareness about symptoms, and understanding the importance of self- breast examination is the need of the hour.

5 Steps For Self-Breast Examination at Home

India.com got in touch with Dr.Vikas Goswami, Director – Medical Oncology, Max Multi speciality centre Noida to understand how women can try self-examination at home. Performing a self-breast examination is a relatively simple procedure that can be done in the privacy of your own home. Here’s how to do it:

1. Step 1: Choose a time: Pick a consistent time each month, preferably a few days after your menstrual cycle.
2. Step 2: Visual Inspection: Stand in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides. Look for any changes in size, shape, or skin texture.
3. Step 3: Raise Your Arms: Raise your arms above your head and observe for the same changes.
4. Step 4: Lie Down: Lie down on your back, placing a small pillow or folded towel under your shoulder on the side you’re examining. Use the opposite hand to feel the breast in a circular, clockwise motion, covering the entire breast area.
5. Step 5: Check Underarms: Don’t forget to examine the armpit area as well.Pay attention to any lumps, thickening, pain, or unusual changes. If you notice anything unusual, consult a healthcare professional for further evaluation.

These are few steps to do a self check up at home. However, if there are still doubts, it is always better to get yourself checked by a doctor. This is generic information about the routine but a proper diagnosis can only be done by a medical professional. But, proper knowledge is important to get yourself checked and rule out other possibilities.