X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

Breast Self-Examination: An Illustrated Guide for Mums

3 min read
Breast Self-Examination: An Illustrated Guide for Mums

This article has clear instructions with accompanying images on how to conduct a breast self-examination.

Breast cancer can be deadly if not caught and treated on time, with more than 25% of all cancers in women being breast cancer.

In Singapore, over 1,800 women were diagnosed with breast cancer between 2010 and 2014 each year, according to the  National Cancer Centre Singapore.

Breast cancer occurs when there is abnormality present in breast cells and they divide without control or order, unlike normal cells which divide and produce in a systematic manner. When this unorderly division occurs, extra tissue is produced, which creates a mass called a tumour. Such tumours can be cancerous or benign and the majority of breast cancers start in the milk ducts.

While going for regular mammograms is one way women can detect breast cancer in its early stages, there is another, more simple method you can use to check for lumps in the privacy of your own home: breast self-examination.

This article will take you through the steps of examining your breasts for lumps. A breast self-examination should only take about 15 minutes to complete and should be done once a month.

Remember – do not do a breast self-examination just before the start of your period as your breasts may be tender and slightly swollen during this time.

Step 1

Breast self exam step 1

Image: Terese Condella/SheKnows

Stand in front of a mirror with your hands on your hips.

Look carefully for lumps, new differences in shape or size and dimpling of the skin on your breasts.

Step 2

Breast self exam step 2

Image: Terese Condella/SheKnows

Raise each arm and carefully check under them for lumps.

Remember that if your body is fighting an infection, your lymph nodes may be enlarged and you might feel this while examining your under-arm.

If this is the case, it’s still best to seek a medical opinion to find out why your lymph nodes are enlarged.

Step 3 

Squeeze each nipple gently with your thumb and index finger.

If there is any discharge or you find a lump in this, or the previous steps of breast self-examination, you will need to speak to your healthcare provider without delay.

Step 4

Self breast exam laying down

Image: Terese Condella/SheKnows

Lie down with your left arm placed under your head. Examine your left breast with your right hand. Move gently over the entire breast with your three middle fingers placed flat. Using small, circular motions, feel for any lumps, thickening or small knots.

Use different levels of pressure – light, medium and firm – to carefully check your whole breast, from your collarbone right down to the ribs below your breast.

Repeat this process with your right breast. Be thorough as early detection is the best way to beat cancer!

Reference

www.emedicine.com

Partner Stories
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
4 Good Toilet Hygiene Habits for Kids to Have Early in Life
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
Flu in Singapore: Is Your Family Protected?
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
6 Top Ways to Prevent Diaper Rash
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance
Experiencing Mood Swings, Irregular Periods and Weight Gain Among Other Things? Here’s What You Need to Know About Hormonal Imbalance

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Nalika Unantenne

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • Breast Self-Examination: An Illustrated Guide for Mums
Share:
  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

  • Can Men Get Breast Cancer

    Can Men Get Breast Cancer

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

  • Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

    Breast Cancer Awareness Month: How To Care For Your Breast Health

  • Can Men Get Breast Cancer

    Can Men Get Breast Cancer

  • I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

    I Try Tracy Lee's Hack for Egg Tarts and It's So Easy That Even Kids Can Make it

  • 'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

    'Family is Priceless': Malaysian Man in Singapore Rents 2 Buses So He and 60 Other Strangers Can Join Their Families for CNY

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and updates on baby care and health.