Breast Self-exam (BSE)

During your clinical breast exam, your provider may tell you how to perform a breast self-exam, or BSE.

By performing BSEs regularly, you will learn how your breasts feel normally, and you will able to report to a health professional any changes in your breasts as soon you find them. Remember, finding a breast change does not mean that there is a cancer.

You may choose not do BSEs, or you can just do them once in a while. If you do not conduct breast self-exams, you should still periodically take note of your breasts and report any changes to your doctor right away.

Remember: The most important screening tools are mammograms and clinical breast exams. To reduce your risks of dying from breast cancer, you need to follow the guidelines on when to get them.

Breast self-exams are optional.

Steps for a Breast Self-exam

First you will lie down and place your right arm behind your head. This exam is conducted while lying down, not standing up. This is because when you are lying down, your breast tissue spreads evenly over your chest wall, and it is as thin as possible. That makes it much easier to feel all the breast tissue.

Use the finger pads of your three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast. Use your finger pads to make overlapping circular motions about the size of a dime to feel the breast tissue.

Use Different Pressure Levels

Use different pressure levels when doing your BSE. Use light pressure to feel the area closest to the skin; use medium or firm pressure to feel the deeper tissue closer to your ribs. While you are using the different pressure levels, keep in mind that there is a firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast.

When Doing a BSE

When doing your BSE, move around the breast in an up and down pattern. Start at an imaginary line drawn straight down your side—from the underarm and moving across the breast, to the middle of the chest bone.

Be sure to check the entire breast area, moving your hand downward until you feel only ribs and upward to the neck or collar bone. Then repeat the exam on your left breast, using the finger pads of your right hand.

Further Examine

Once you have finished with that part of your breast exam, be sure to examine a little more. Stand with your hands pressing firmly down on your hips. Be sure to look for a change in the size, shape, contour or dimpling in your breast.

This is also a perfect time to examine your underarm. While sitting up or standing, raise your arm slightly so you can easily feel in this area.

Next: If Something is Found…