Breast Cancer: 5 ways to examine one's breasts and when to do it

Breast cancer is one of the leading Cancer types, which affects women throughout the world. Regular breast examination for early cancer detection, serves as a vital method to enhance treatment success rates. Home breast examination techniques enable women to identify cancer symptoms at their initial stages. Here are five methods to check for breast cancer symptoms together, and the best time to conduct these assessments.

The first step of breast self-examination requires women to inspect their breasts visually, while standing in front of a mirror without wearing any clothing from the waist up. Stand with your arms hanging by your sides while you examine your breasts for any alterations in their size, shape or symmetry. Check your breasts for signs of dimpling, puckering, redness, swelling and any visible lumps. Check your breasts again after raising your arms above your head for any noticeable changes. The breast surface becomes more visible when you place your hands on your hips and flex your chest muscles. Check your nipples for any inward direction and unusual discharge during the examination. The visual examination helps doctors detect external breast symptoms, which could signal internal breast problems.

The chest wall becomes more accessible for breast tissue examination when lying down because it allows the tissue to distribute evenly. Use your three middle fingers' pads to perform small circular motions, which will help you detect the entire breast area and armpit region. The breast tissue should be divided into sections that resemble pie slices, or clock numbers for systematic examination. The examination requires three pressure levels starting with light, then medium and finishing with firm, to detect tissues at various depths. A thorough examination should be conducted to detect any lumps, thickened areas or hardened knots. A gentle nipple compression will help you determine if any discharge exists. Use your opposite hand to perform the same examination on your other breast. The touch-based examination technique enables users to identify hidden lumps, which remain invisible to the eye.

The examination process becomes simpler for many women when their skin becomes wet, and slippery. During your shower time raise one arm while using your opposite hand to examine your breast tissue and underarm area, with flat finger pads. Use circular motions to scan the complete breast and armpit region, while applying various pressure intensities to detect all tissue layers. The hot shower environment together with skin moisture, creates conditions that allow for better breast tissue examination. The method provides a simple way to check breasts during your regular shower time.

The examination of the nipple area requires special attention because it needs separate evaluation from visual, and touch-based assessments. Check your nipple for inversion, and observe any color or direction changes, and look for abnormal discharge that is not breast milk. The discharge appears as clear liquid, bloody or contain different colors. A light touch on the nipple will reveal if any fluid emerges from the nipple. Breast cancer together with other breast disorders may produce nipple changes and unusual discharge as their initial warning signs. Any unusual nipple changes or discharge require medical evaluation, to determine the cause.

The success of breast self-exams depends on the specific time when women choose to perform them since breast undergoes changes depending on one's menstrual cycle. Women who menstruate, should perform their breast examination between 7 to 10 days after their period starts (day 1 is first day of period) because their breasts become less sensitive and less lumpy, during this time. Women who do not menstruate should select a specific day each month for their examination, such as the first day of the month. Women should conduct breast self-exams monthly while monitoring any changes that appear between exams. Regular monthly breast exams, enable women to understand their breast tissue better, which enhances their ability to spot unusual growths at an early stage.

References and Sources

Geims Hospital - Breast Self Examination: Signs, Steps, Types, Screening, July 2025

National Breast Cancer Foundation - How Often Should I Do a Breast Self Exam?, January 2024

MedlinePlus - Breast self-exam: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia, December 2024

National Breast Cancer.org - Breast Self-Exam Guide, August 2025

UCLA Health - Do you need to do breast self-exams?

Disclaimer: This article is informational only and not a substitute for medical advice