London: With Breast Cancer increasing by 1% a year in the UK1 its becoming vital for all women to perform a Self Breast Examination each month.
A 2005 survey by BreastTalk.co.uk found out that only 8% of women examine their breasts on a regular basis and 75% of women are not sure what to look for BreastTalk.co.uk has put together simple, easy to follow instructions for performing a breast examination.
Carol Tromans, Owner of BreastTalk.co.uk says, The examination weve put together should only take around 5 10 minutes, is quite thorough, and should be carried out each month.
The examination is divided into 5 steps:
1. Looking at your breasts in front of a mirror.
2. Looking at your breasts and nipples with hands above your head.
3. Lying on a bed and examining each breast with your fingertips.
4. Checking your breasts with fingertips whilst standing with an arm
above your head.
5. A thorough inspection of your nipples.
Carol explains, The important thing to look for when performing a self
examination is any changes to the breasts. We provide a simple Examination Diary Sheet for download on our website so any changes can be noted.
Important changes to look for include: Size – Changes in the size of one of the breasts or if one breast starts to hang lower than the other. Nipples Look for changes in the nipples shape and size. Also look for any rashes or discharge. Skin Changes Look for dimpling or puckering of the skin and also any changes in colour. Swelling – Look for any swelling under the armpits or around the collarbone. Pain If you develop continuous pain in a breast consult your GP. Lumps Look for any lumps or thickening of the breast tissue or any changes in the feel of your breast. If you want to read more about this examination then visit www.breasttalk.co.uk The instructions and an examination diary are also available as a download.