Before you start
- A few minutes in private
- A mirror
Why breast checks matter
Being breast aware means knowing how your breasts usually look and feel, so you can spot anything new. Breasts naturally change with your menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, weight changes and age, and they’re often lumpy or a little uneven. What matters is a change from what’s normal for you.
Men can also get breast cancer, so anyone who notices a lump or change in the chest area should get it checked.
Method 1 Look
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Step 1: Choose your time
If you have periods, check a few days after your period ends, when breasts are usually least tender and lumpy. If not, pick the same day each month.
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Step 2: Arms by your sides
Stand in front of a mirror with your top off. Look at the size, shape and outline of both breasts and the skin and nipples.
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Step 3: Arms raised
Raise your arms above your head and look again, including underneath each breast.
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Step 4: Hands on hips
Press your hands on your hips to tense your chest muscles and look for dimpling or changes in outline.
Method 2 Feel
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Step 1: Lie down or stand in the shower
Many people find it easier lying down with a pillow under one shoulder, or in the shower with soapy hands.
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Step 2: Use the flat of your fingers
Use the pads of your middle three fingers, keeping them flat and together, and the opposite hand to the breast you’re checking.
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Step 3: Cover the whole area
Move in small circles, using light, then medium, then firm pressure, covering the whole breast from your collarbone to below the bra line, and from your breastbone to your armpit. Following a pattern, such as up and down in strips, helps you not miss anywhere.
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Step 4: Check the armpit
Feel into your armpit and up towards your collarbone for any lumps or swelling.
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Step 5: Check the nipple
Look at and gently feel the nipple and the area around it.
| Change | What it might look or feel like |
|---|---|
| A lump or thickening | A new lump or a thicker area in the breast, chest or armpit |
| Skin changes | Dimpling, puckering, redness, a rash or skin like orange peel |
| Nipple changes | Turning inwards (when it didn’t before), a rash, crusting or a change in position |
| Discharge | Fluid or blood from the nipple when you’re not breastfeeding |
| Shape or size | A change in the size or outline of one breast |
| Swelling or pain | Swelling in the armpit or around the collarbone, or pain that doesn’t go away |
Method 3 If you notice a change
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Step 1: Don’t wait
Book an appointment with your doctor promptly. Don’t wait for your next screening invitation.
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Step 2: Try not to panic
Most breast lumps are not cancer; they are often cysts or harmless lumps called fibroadenomas. But only a doctor can tell.
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Step 3: Note the details
Write down what you noticed, when, and whether it changes with your cycle, to share with the doctor.
Troubleshooting
My breasts always feel lumpy
That’s common. Checking regularly helps you learn your normal lumpiness, so a new or different lump stands out.
I feel embarrassed seeing a doctor
Doctors check breasts routinely. You can ask for a chaperone or a doctor of a particular gender.
The lump comes and goes with my period
Cyclical changes are common, but mention any lump to a doctor, especially if it stays after your period.
Frequently asked questions
How often should I check my breasts?
About once a month, but also be aware of any changes you notice at other times, like in the shower.
Do young people need to check?
Yes, getting to know your body from your late teens or twenties makes changes easier to notice later.
Is breast pain a sign of cancer?
Breast pain is very common and usually linked to hormones, not cancer. See a doctor if it’s new, persistent, or in one specific spot.
Summary
Once a month, look at your breasts in the mirror and feel each one, including up to the collarbone and into the armpit, using the flat of your fingers. See a doctor promptly about any new lump, skin or nipple change, discharge, swelling or persistent pain, and go for screening when invited.