How To Do a Breast Self Examination

They hang straight (or crooked) under your nose, faithfully bouncing along with your busy routine, but except during your sexy time, they get little attention – we're talking about your breasts. Your two friends through thick and thin, whom we all too often forget. We like to take care of everyone around us, but we don't self-examine and sometimes even take breast pain for granted, our research shows. But every day, seven women in Belgium die from breast cancer, and recognizing the symptoms of breast cancer early can save lives. So today we ask you: when was the last time you felt your breasts?

Why check your breasts? Breast cancer figures in Belgium

• Despite good care, seven women lose the battle against breast cancer every day.
• One in nine women will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives.
• Breast cancer is the number one cause of death among European women.
• 80% of all breast cancers are hormone sensitive.
• 80% of women in Belgium do not know the nine warning signs for breast cancer (see below).
• 30% have never examined their own breasts, and of those who do, 40% are unsure whether they are doing it correctly.

The figures surrounding breast cancer are undeniable. And yet, we check our breasts far too infrequently.

Examining your breasts: when and how do you do it?

Your breasts change throughout your life and cycle. Sometimes they're a little firmer, sometimes softer, sometimes fuller, sometimes sagging. But your breasts are unique, and you deserve to know them better than anyone. That's the only way to know when something's wrong. Because changes in your breasts can be harmless, but they can also be a warning sign of breast cancer.

• Check your breasts about a week after your period.
• Pay attention to your skin, nipples and the shape of your breasts (see the 9 warning signs below).
• Visit a doctor if you see or feel any changes in your breast.

One more thing about when to check your breasts. We recommend doing this about 10 days after your period. Why exactly? We asked Joke Bulthé, a gynecologist at Ghent University Hospital.

Under the influence of progesterone, the body retains more fluid during the (pre)menstrual phase. This fluid also resides in the breasts and presses on all these structures. This already causes more tension in the breasts. If you then press on your breasts, you increase their sensitivity or it can even feel painful. This can cause more anxiety. But the tension also makes it harder to feel changes like an abnormal lump in the normal tissue. That's why it's better to feel after menstruation .

Want to know more about how your breasts change throughout your cycle? We wrote a whole article about it: How Your Breasts Change Throughout Your Cycle .

What to look for during self-examination: the 9 warning signs from Think Pink

Women over 50 have a higher risk of breast cancer. But even if you're younger, it's advisable to examine your breasts regularly. There are no definitive guidelines on this. The French-language "Ligue contre le cancer" (Legal Association against Cancer) recommends that women who are not in a high-risk category have their breasts examined annually by their gynecologist or general practitioner.

The better you know your breasts and how they feel, the better you will be able to recognize when something is different than normal.

Examine your breasts in three steps:

1. Firmly touch your right breast with the three fingers of your left hand. Start on the outside (near your armpit) and make small circles inward. Work from left to right and from top to bottom.
2. Feel under your arm and armpit for any thickenings or hard areas.
3. Press your nipple to see if any fluid comes out.

What to look out for? Think Pink's 9 warning signs

1. You feel a lump, swelling or unusual pain in your breast

Not all lumps are cancerous, and breast cancer usually doesn't feel anything at first. Unusual and new lumps, swelling, or unusual pain are sufficient reasons for a follow-up checkup. Therefore, it's important to know your breasts well. Knowing what they feel and look like will help you notice changes more quickly.

2. You see a lump on your breast

When a visible lump appears, many women think of breast cancer, but it could also be something else, such as a connective tissue lump or a fatty lump. Have your doctor assess the lump for size, shape, firmness, and mobility.

3. You feel a lump under your armpit

Also keep an eye on your armpits and the area above your collarbone. The glands in your armpit can swell with inflammation. If you feel an unusual lump and you are over fifty, see your doctor.

→ What does a lump feel like? A lump can feel like a marble. It's harder and stiffer than the rest. But it can also feel like a long swelling or a thickened disc.

4. You have a dent in your chest

Dimples, indentations, or indentations in your breasts are more noticeable when you raise your hands. Like lumps and swellings, they can be harmless, but sometimes they can be malignant. Have a professional examine them.

5. Your breast shape has changed

It's perfectly normal for your breasts to be different shapes. However, it's a good idea to see a doctor if one breast suddenly changes shape or size.

6. Your nipple is suddenly retracted

Nipples come in all shapes and sizes. Here too, have them checked if you notice any unusual changes, such as if you've recently developed a flat nipple or if your nipple seems to be retracting.

7. You have fluid loss from the nipple

Nipple discharge without recent pregnancy or breastfeeding is a symptom. It might be an infection, but it's better to err on the side of caution and see a doctor.

8. Your skin is uneven and feels hard (orange peel skin)

If the skin on your breasts looks flaky and red, we call it orange peel skin. This term is usually used to describe cellulite on the legs and buttocks. If you have this on your breasts, it's advisable to see a doctor.

9. The skin has changed color

Red, blue, or green patches: If your breasts have an unusual color, it could indicate a poorly fitting bra. If it also occurs with a properly fitting bra, have a doctor check it out.

Are you breastfeeding and suddenly have a red, warm spot, a red line, tender joints, and feeling flu-like? You might have mastitis. Read here what to do. See a doctor if you're concerned.

Other reasons for breast pain: hormones and bras

At Guud Woman, we speak with women who suffer from breast tenderness every day. Only 20% of women never experience breast tenderness. Many of the women we speak with also frequently experience headaches, bloating, and cramps. They struggle through their cycle every month and think this is just part of it.

But sore breasts and other symptoms can be a sign of a hormonal imbalance or underlying health issues. Are you experiencing breast discomfort? Chat with us , and we'll be happy to discuss how we can help. Have you noticed changes in your breasts or recognize any of the nine signs? Contact your doctor immediately.

CurveCatch, a Flemish startup that helps women find the perfect fitting bra with a try-on service, also frequently speaks with women who experience breast discomfort. About 80% of women wear bras that don't fit properly, which can also cause breast pain.

Breast cancer risk: what can you do to reduce the risk?

When we talk about breast cancer risk, the risks can be divided into two groups: avoidable risks and unavoidable risks. Let's take a look at them:

Risks of breast cancer that you can control

It's always wise to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Not only because you'll feel fitter and because you deserve it, but also because it can reduce your risk of health conditions.

The risk of breast cancer increases if you are overweight or obese, if you have gone through the menopause, if you drink or smoke (heavy), if you take the pill, if you do not exercise enough or if you are taking a certain hormone replacement therapy (HRT) (a therapy to reduce the symptoms of the menopause).

Breast cancer risks beyond your control

There are countless factors that pose a risk for breast cancer that you simply cannot control. These include your age, family history, exposure to x-rays or radiation therapy, the type of breast tissue you have, whether you have had children, whether you have breastfed, and the age and duration of your menstrual cycle.

Changes in your cycle due to breast cancer treatment

We just mentioned that your period can affect breast cancer. The age at which you first get your period and when you enter menopause, for example, influences your risk of breast cancer.

Chemotherapy or hormone therapy (or anti-hormonal therapy) can also affect the regularity of your periods or how much you bleed. In some cases, you might stop menstruating altogether.

Hormone therapy is a treatment that targets the female hormones estrogen and progesterone, and is often used for hormone-sensitive tumors. A hormone-sensitive tumor grows under the influence of these hormones. This treatment involves medication that reduces your production of these hormones.

You may notice typical changes that can be traced back to changes in your hormones:

• absent menstruation
• altered libido
• depressive feelings

Fertility and breast cancer

A major concern for many women with breast cancer is whether treatment will affect their ability to conceive in the future.

Women with breast cancer who are in the reproductive stage (still fertile) often receive hormone therapy (or anti-hormonal therapy). This treatment reduces the risk of the cancer returning.

The downside of this treatment is that it affects your menstrual cycle and causes your body to go into premature menopause, because your body will no longer produce estrogen and progesterone.

Consult with a specialist physician before starting chemotherapy or hormone therapy to explore your fertility preservation options. They can explore the possibility of freezing embryos or eggs before starting treatment. A specialist can also discuss other options for starting or expanding a family, such as using donor eggs or adoption.

Breast cancer is a terrible disease, but fortunately, survival rates continue to rise . Self-examination is an important part of it. So check your breasts regularly. Schedule your self-examination to a specific date or set it as a reminder on your phone—that way you're sure you won't forget.

Do you have other questions about breast pain, self-examination, or want to know what you can do to improve your cycle? Chat with us . Our experts are ready to help. Want to know immediately what our products can do for you? Then visit our product finder and feel confident every day of the month.