Regular self-examination of the breast allows the woman herself to immediately notice any minor changes, consult a doctor and avoid serious undesirable consequences.
Self-examination is recommended to be carried out monthly, on the same day of the cycle – usually 6-12 days from the beginning of menstruation. This procedure is simple and takes only 3-5 minutes.
So, stand in front of the mirror. Look closely at the shape of the breasts, the appearance of the nipples and skin.
Raise your hands. Examine the chest – first from the front, then from the sides.
Divide the chest into 4 parts – upper outer and inner, lower upper and inner. Raise your left hand up. With the middle three fingers of your right hand, press on your left chest. Start at the top outer quarter and work your way down in a clockwise direction. Change hands and similarly examine the right chest.
Squeeze the nipple between your thumb and forefinger to see if fluid is escaping.
Lie down. And in this position, examine each chest in quarters (left hand up – right hand clockwise, etc.).
In the armpit area, feel the lymph nodes with your fingers.
The inspection is over. If you do it monthly, then any change after the last inspection will be noticeable. Be sure to immediately contact a mammologist if you find tissue heterogeneity, formation, discharge from the nipples, soreness or enlargement of the lymph nodes. And don’t panic if you find a seal. Studies show that of all cases of breast diseases, 91% are in various forms of mastopathy and only 4% are malignant diseases.
The bras you wear are also important. “If the bra is chosen correctly, then it does not injure the mammary gland,” says Marina Travina, Candidate of Medical Sciences, mammologist. – It often happens that a woman has gained 10 kg, but her bras are still the same … It should be noted that the bones should end not in the mammary gland, but behind it. When you undress, look to see if there are any underwear marks on your body. If the entire ornament is imprinted on the skin, then the bra is tight, it needs to be changed. This provokes lymphostasis. Tight shoulder straps – we tighten the lymph drainage, and everything hurts. The elastic on the back should go horizontally. “