Breast Check

Hi girls,

This is almost embaressing to ask. How do I check my breasts? I'm not sure why I have never been taught how!!

Is there a specific way to do it? What am I looking for?

Amy, I recommend you go and ask your GP to show you. It is very important to do it every month and to do it correctly. This is a pet topic of mine as mum has had breast cancer and I have had a precancerous lump removed already (about a year before conceiving DS1).

The best time of the month is early in your cycle, a few days after AF starts, as this is when they are less lumpy. Lift one arm above your head, and with your other hand gently start under your arm and work your way around the whole breast. You are feeling for any changes or lumps (a lump might feel like a pea under the skin, or just like a lump. If you are not sure if something is a lump or not, go and get it checked. It is better to be on the safe side.

Good on you for asking this question. As well as helping yourself, you might be helping someone else who doesn't know too!

Thanks heaps Manta. I'm not sure why I've never been shown how! My grandmother died of breast cancer when I was three and my Mum has also had a precancerous lump removed. A close work colleague was also diagnosed with breast cancer and has been in remission for 5 years. I've never really thought to check my breasts (being only 23) until now when I realised that breast cancer can still occur in women in their early 20's.

My GP has never asked me if I check my breasts, nor has my gynaecologist. I'm not sure why Mum never taught me either - I'll chase her up when she returns from overseas!

Thanks heaps for giving me some info. The next time I am at my GP I will ask.

Dr Chris Steele demonstrates how to examine your breasts

Don't forget to check up under your pits and the area near your neck.

Thanks heaps for that link Dach. Very informative.

Hi ya Amy, ... I had my 1st scare at 26 & actually had breast cancer surgery at just turned 34 :rolleyes:

My SIL is 26 & found out she had breast cancer in March, she has one more round of chemo to go.

My older sister had surgery last Wed & finds out tomorrow if they got it all ... Fingers crossed for her :crossfingers:

To be honest Amy I myself can't tell one lump in my boob from my next so I get my GP to check them for me. She does it when I have a pap smear ;)

The GP takes it quite serious if there has been breast cancer history on your Mother's side of the Family. Therefore usually you can have a mamogram at an earlier age in your 20's :)

Yeh, your GP is the best person to ask in how to go about checking them as they can do you a demo, which is easier to see it been done on yourself !!

(Don't forget those armpits too !!!!)

I think it's good to do it yourself as well as getting your GP to do it.
Your boobs are lumpy normally but in a few months you'll know what is normal for you so you'll notice any changes.
Your GP can feel any lumps that have a non-fleshy consistancy but she doesn't know what is normal for your breasts so she might miss a change that you won't.

I think that is why I am confused. My boobs have many lumps and bumps anyway and I'm not sure how to determine what is a normal part of my breast and what is not. Will a suspicious lump sit closer to the surface?

I think you mainly need to look for changes in colour, sensitivity, discharge, unusual textures, new lumps and so on. Familiarity with your own breasts means that you will notice subtle changes.
There is an article from The Mayo Clinic HERE that explains breast familiarity.

That is incredibly helpful - thanks Dach.

Off to do my very first official breast check now!

Good on you Amy :clap:

... I just treat it no different than getting a pap smear - It's just a part of a woman's life & looking after herself without getting yourself all worried about it.

Sadly to answer your question, myself & SIL both had the lump at the back wall cavity. No where near a surface :rolleyes:

Cheers for now from Lorelle ;)

the neighbour lady next to my dh's parents just found she has breast cancer and told every woman she knew to get checked, regardless of age... I was going to start a thread but found this! Thank you!

as with amysarah - mine have always been lumpy. had a "breast check" type thing not long after ds was born... she didn't mention anything. Could the lumps that I have be nasty, but just feel like normal lumps? I'm not worried - but if I was that type of person, just thinking that could flip someone out! :)

I don't have "lumps" as such. Its more just that there is so much stuff that makes up a breast, I wouldn't know what is normal and what is not. The link that Dach provided is helping me learn about my breasts and to familiarise myself with what is normal and therefore will be able to notice any changes in future.

I did my first breast check last night and just as Manta said, because I am on CD6 my breasts were a lot softer and nowhere near as lumpy as they would be later in my cycle.

I think I've got this thing figured out now!

My grandmother died of breast cancer. My mum,aunt and sis have all found lumps but they were all ok. Me i have found nothing but i get worried when my boobs get sore.I am not sure if its the muscle and the bra's not right? Ive never been checked by the dr but i have to get a referral so may ask.

Hello ladies , i just come across this thread....

my boobs have been really tender the past few days... and when i woke up this morning, for some reason i felt my left boob on the side closest to my arm.... it felt abit hard.. it went away and comes back now and then.... most the time before AF my boobs get tender but not this tender :( my right boob is just tender no hardness in that
So i'm a little concerned

Hi Retrogal - please report ANY breast changes to your doctor - the vast majority of breast changes will be harmless but you don't want to risk that eeny tiny percentage that it's not. I had a mastectomy recently and at one of my appts I heard the breast surgeon talking about another patient she had to get special permission to operate on because she was SIXTEEN. So it can happen at any age. Your dr will probably examine the area and may order an ultrasound or other tests to confirm everything's ok. It could be something like a cyst or whatever but you won't know until you get it checked out. :hug:

Thanks Marydean

I called the local medical centre they werent taking anymore patients.. as they close at 11:30. But she did however give me the hospitals number and told me to ring after 1pm to see when the next consultant would be on.. i have a million things running through my mind right now :(

:

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The GP takes it quite serious if there has been breast cancer history on your Mother's side of the Family. Therefore usually you can have a mamogram at an earlier age in your 20's :)

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This applies if you have a history of breast cancer or ovarian cancer in either your Mother or your Father's side of the family. There are a few indicators they look at such as the age at which the family member got cancer.

If you meet the criteria, you can get an appointment to a familial cancer centre who can work out your risk of getting cancer, and assist in getting screening mamograms etc.

For info on familial cancers, see the brochures at GHSV and contact your local genetic centre.
Genetic Health Services Victoria

Try not to worry too much. Most changes in breast tissue aren't cancerous (click on the link). If you have a regular GP that you trust, it might be worth making an appt with them for Mon or Tues rather than waiting for ages at the hospital which can be stressful in itself, and they may not even be as helpful (your GP will be able to follow up on results etc better than a random hospy dr). If you don't have a regular GP, now is a good time to get find one that you really 'gel' with. I know better than anyone how hard it is to wait when you're worried, but get some support, and do lots of nice things this weekend to distract yourself. :hug:

Hello ladies..
Just wanted to let you know that im going to the clinic at 5pm at the hossy..

The hardness has gone now but i think i will still go and get it checked out. just to be on the safe side....

Retro - let us know how you go - I agree with MD that you need to find a good GP and being newly moved now is the time to suss out the good ones :hug:

Ring me if needed

Retro - let us know how you go - I agree with MD that you need to find a good GP and being newly moved now is the time to suss out the good ones :hug:

Ring me if needed

Evening ladies. i just wanted to let you know that i went to the after hours clinic at the hossy AND i have an infection in my breast... i dont know how i got it. i have antibiotics to take and the doctor said that if it didnt go away after the course of the antibiotics then to make and appt with a doctor..

:hug: I bet you are feeling relieved :). Be sure to follow up if it doesn't get better in a few days.

Will do. Yes i am relieved actually.
Thank you for your advice

I can't recall if I have mentioned this in another thread but:

About 6 months ago I had a very sore left breast. It felt hot and i was aware of discomfort even when not touching it. By the time i got around to thinking about making a doctor's appointment it had passed. Then it flared up again right before my next period. I waited until my period was over so that i could determine what was hormonal tenderness and what wasn't. But then time passed and it was forgotten (DD was causing us huge stress and we were organising her to move interstate etc). Next month just before my period, same thing but now no hotness just tenderness.... and so a pattern started. I have never really had tender breasts like most women do before their periods but i was wondering if this was just a normal thing settling in. I knew how to do breast checks and there didn't seem to be any definite lumps. My nana had breast cancer in her final years though so I know i am probably a candidate. Anyhow finally life calms down and about 3 weeks agoI get to see my GP about it. She examines me and whilst doesn't seem to feel any definte lumps she books me in for an ultrasound which i had about 10 days ago. I've done that but i'm now too chicken to ring up and ask about the results! :redface: From past experience my GP just calls me if any result is out of order.... so i am assuming that this time 'no news is good news". is this safe to assume? We really can't afford another $20 (gap fee) for her to tell me that the test was clear.... that sounds bad doesn't it?


Personally i think i had a lingering breast infection. Last period i had no pre AF pain.... also had a cold that had turned into a respiratory infection and i suspect that the large natural dose of antibodies might have helped to clear away any bugs in my breast tissue. It's been over 2 months since i have felt any kind of discomfort... when i check myself now it feels perfectly fine. :crossfingers:

Bath, is your GP one that you can ring and ask if there is a need for you to attend an appointment? the GP may be able to ring and give you a yes or no on whether you need to come in... i wouldn't assume it's a "no news is good news" thing though...

BG: no... they have receptionists who only seem keen to make appointments. They might interrupt a GP to ask about a script but not about test results (from past experience). I have to return in about 3 weeks for another GP appointment for another issue anyhow... i was just going to wait.

I do my check monthly, but every day I look at the texture of my breasts as I massage oil into them, to see if anything has changed.

I'm also off for my first mamogram tomorrow.

Just thought I'd :bump: this...it's so important!!

Now, I've got huuuuge breasts. As in 18GG. I REALLY can't tell anything when I examine myself. There are lumps everywhere and wayyyy too many to remember. I start on the outside of one boob and by the time I reach the inside I have completely forgotten what lumps there where on the outside :doh: They are just too big. I mean I have to examine about 4kg of breast tissue. That's A LOT! :shakehead: Can I maybe get a mammogram done? How often would I do that to be able to pick up on lumps on time? Also, how much does it cost? My doctor examines me every two years when I'm there for my pap smear. But How will she know whether there are changes in my breast when not even I can notice?

I would advise that you continue with your monthly self exams, but when you next go to your doc, talk to her about what your options are. I will be. Plus I will be doing regular checks cause I have been lazy lately! My boobs aren't necessarily huge, but they are lumpy naturally and I can't tell what's abnormal. Maybe just because I've never had anything abnormal (I hope!) and maybe if there is something abnormal I will be able to tell...but I will be speaking to my GP about what other options there are or what to look out for when doing checks.

I have actually never spoken to anyone about it, I find it kind of sad that it's not something my doc asks me about regularly, or even ever!