- Start by looking at your breasts in the mirror with you standing in an akimbo posture (your shoulders straight and your arms on your hips)
You are looking to see that:
- Your breasts are in their usual size, shape, and colour
- Your breasts are evenly shaped without visible distortion or swelling
If you see any dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the skin; If you see a nipple that has changed position or an inverted nipple (pushed inward instead of sticking out); if you see any redness, soreness, rash, or swelling; please contact your doctor immediately.
- Now, raise your arms and look for the same changes.
- While you’re at the mirror, look for any signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (this could be a watery, milky, or yellow fluid or blood).
- Then, feel your breasts while lying down, using your right hand to feel your left breast and then your left hand to feel your right breast.
Use a firm, smooth touch with the first few finger pads of your hand, keeping the fingers flat and together.
Use a circular motion, about the size of coin.
Cover the entire breast from top to bottom, side to side — from your collarbone to the top of your abdomen, and from your armpit to your cleavage.
Follow a pattern to be sure that you cover the whole breast. You can begin at the nipple, moving in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast.
You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, in rows, as if you were mowing a lawn. This up-and-down approach seems to work best for most women. Be sure to feel all the tissue from the front to the back of your breasts: for the skin and tissue just beneath, use light pressure; use medium pressure for tissue in the middle of your breasts; use firm pressure for the deep tissue in the back. When you’ve reached the deep tissue, you should be able to feel down to your rib-cage.
- Finally, feel your breasts while you are standing or sitting. Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in above
Read more about Breast Cancer here
About the Flying Doctors Nigeria Air Ambulance Service
The Flying Doctors Nigeria is a leading air ambulance company covering West and Central Africa. For patients that have overwhelmed the level of care available in their local environment, air ambulances are essential for transferring these patients to better levels of care.
We also offer medical evacuation plans which provide medical evacuation and treatment in the event of an emergency for a small yearly fee.
To learn more about us and our services, send us an email at sales@flyingdoctorsnigeria.com.
Or visit our website at www.flyingdoctorsnigeria.com
