How to Check Your Breasts (perform a Breast Self-Exam or BSE)

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

In many cultures, women are not talking about the stuff underneath our clothes. It's taboo or embarrassing to talk about breasts, vaginas, and the exams that go with them. Chismosas! Let's get past cultural norms because talking helps. When we're open to each other, knowledge flows freely, support is shared, concerns alleviated, and relationships strengthened.

So let's talk about the Breast Self-Exam (BSE).

First, we want to point you to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Their website has a great and easy to understand page on the Breast Self-Exam. Be sure to watch the video to learn a bit more about different breast exams. Visit the website at http://www.nationalbreastcancer.org/breast-self-exam.

You should perform the BSE once a month, on the same day each month. Screenings like doctor exams and mammograms combined with the BSE is ideal. However, not all of us have insurance or can afford a hospital visit. If you need but can't afford a mammogram, check out NBCF's Mammography Program.

Who needs a mammogram? There is no straight forward answer to this one. It's actually a topic of debate in the medical field. The general consensus is that women in their 40s need to start having a mammogram every 1-2 years. But it really depends on the individual woman. A young woman might want to have mammograms if she has a family history of cancer. Each woman should consult her doctor.

You can perform the BSE in the shower, in front of a mirror, or lying down. We found it more convenient to perform the BSE lying down at night before going to sleep, only because we're under time constraints in the shower, having to get to work or school. Now, if you shower when you've got every time in the world, it might be more convenient for you to perform the BSE then.

When performing a BSE:

• Check every area of your breast, including the armpit
• Use the pads of your fingers moving in small circular motions
• Use varying degrees of pressure, from light to firm
• Move around your breast in a pattern to make sure you check every area
• Use the opposite hand to breast (ie: left hand checks right breast)

It's also convenient to check our breasts in the mirror before or after we shower since the mirror is already there and we've already stripped down.

In the mirror, check these things:

• Your breasts are the usual size, shape, and color
• There are no lumps, puckering, dimpling, or swelling of the skin
• There are no redness or rashes
• Your breasts are not sore
• One or both of your nipples have not changed direction (ie: inverted nipples)
• Check your breasts with your hands at your side, as you gently sway from side to side, and propped on your hips

Performing a BSE for the first few times can be intimidating and worrisome because you don't know your breasts yet. No breast is the same (even yours will be different from each other), and every breast has little bumps and lumps. It doesn't mean you have cancer. The more you perform a BSE, the more you'll familiarize yourself with your own breasts. That's when you'll start noticing any changes. Always bring up your concerns with your doctor.

So chismosas, don't forget to check your breasts every month. Be aware of your body and any changes you notice. Don't be afraid or shy to bring up concerns with your doctor. And let's open the lines of communication. Tell your friends about the Breast Self-Exam, and remember to encourage and support each other!