NURSING01-22Sept08-PIB4.1

Nursing Division

Breast Awareness

Shaukat Khanum MemorialCancer Hospital & Research Centre

7-A, Block R-3, Johar Town, LahoreTel: 042-35945100 UAN: 111-155-555

Toll Free Number: 0800-11555

All revenues from services treat needy Cancer patients

www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk

Patient Information

Breast awareness is about getting toknow how your breasts look and feel andwhat is normal for you at different timesof the month.

When you become familiar with howyour breasts normally look and feel-it willbecome easier for you to detect anychanges.

Remember that nine out of ten lumps orchanges are harmless. There are manymyths and stories about what causesbreast cancer.

However, if you note any changes in yourbreast appearance, contact your doctorand if you have any worries or anxietiesplease also contact your doctor.

Who should be breast aware?• Every woman, from puberty

onwards, should become breastaware

• It is recommended that all thewomen should begin practicingmonthly Breast Self Examinationfrom the early twenties

• There is more risk of getting breastcancer as you get older

Women with very lumpy breasts mayfind this difficult. Do try to becomefamiliar with any lumpiness and, if youare worried, seek advice from your doctor.

When should I be breast aware?• There is no specific time - it is up to

you• The best time to check your breasts

is 2-3 days after your period ends• If you become pregnant, you should

still check your breasts regularly,changes in size and texture are quitenormal

• If you no longer have periodschoose a particular day such as thefirst day of the month is the easiestdate to remind yourself to do BreastSelf Examination

How often should I check myself?• Check your breasts regularly, once

every month• Do not examine your breasts more

frequently than once each month.You may not detect subtle or smallchanges

Breast Self ExaminationGetting to know what your breasts lookand feel like is in the interest of goodhealth. It is important to know what isnormal for you, so that you can detectany changes.The best way to become familiar withyour breasts is to perform monthly BreastSelf- Examination.

How should I carry out Breast Self- Examination?

What isbreast awareness?

Breast awareness is about getting toknow how your breasts look and feel andwhat is normal for you at different timesof the month.

When you become familiar with howyour breasts normally look and feel-it willbecome easier for you to detect anychanges.

Remember that nine out of ten lumps orchanges are harmless. There are manymyths and stories about what causesbreast cancer.

However, if you note any changes in yourbreast appearance, contact your doctorand if you have any worries or anxietiesplease also contact your doctor.

Who should be breast aware?• Every woman, from puberty

onwards, should become breastaware

• It is recommended that all thewomen should begin practicingmonthly Breast Self Examinationfrom the early twenties

• There is more risk of getting breastcancer as you get older

Women with very lumpy breasts mayfind this difficult. Do try to becomefamiliar with any lumpiness and, if youare worried, seek advice from your doctor.

When should I be breast aware?• There is no specific time - it is up to

you• The best time to check your breasts

is 2-3 days after your period ends• If you become pregnant, you should

still check your breasts regularly,changes in size and texture are quitenormal

• If you no longer have periodschoose a particular day such as thefirst day of the month is the easiestdate to remind yourself to do BreastSelf Examination

How often should I check myself?• Check your breasts regularly, once

every month• Do not examine your breasts more

frequently than once each month.You may not detect subtle or smallchanges

Breast Self ExaminationGetting to know what your breasts lookand feel like is in the interest of goodhealth. It is important to know what isnormal for you, so that you can detectany changes.The best way to become familiar withyour breasts is to perform monthly BreastSelf- Examination.

How should I carry out Breast Self- Examination?

What isbreast awareness?

There are two ways of Breast Self -Examination and Awareness

• Looking• Feeling

Find a place or room in which you feelcomfortable that is also well lighten

1. Stand in front of a mirror; inspectboth breasts for anything unusualsuch as any discharge from thenipples or puckering, dimpling or,scaling of the skin.

2. Watching closely in the mirror, claspyour hands behind your head andpress your hands forward.

3. Next, press your hands firmly onyour hips and bow slightly towardsyour mirror as you pull yourshoulders and elbows forward.

Some women do the next part of theexamination in the shower becausefingers glide over soapy skin, making iteasy to concentrate on the textureunderneath.

4. Raise your left arm. Use three or fourfingers of your right hand to exploreyour left breast firmly, carefully, andthoroughly.

Beginning at the outer edge, press theflat part of your fingers in small circles,moving the circles slowly around thebreast. Gradually work toward the nipple.Be sure to cover the entire breast. Payspecial attention to the area betweenthe breast and the underarm, including

the underarm itself. Feel for any unusuallump under the skin.

5. Gently squeeze the nipple and lookfor a discharge. (If you have anydischarge during the month----whether or not it is during BreastSelf Examination --- go to yourdoctor). Repeat step 4 and 5 on your

right breast.

6. Steps 4 and 5 should be repeatedlying down. Lie flat on your backwith your left arm over your headand a pillow or folded towel underyour left shoulder.

This position flattens the breast andmakes it easier to examine. Use the samecircular motion described earlier. Repeatthe exam on your right breast.

What I am Looking For?• An increase or decrease in size (is

very common to have one breastlarger than the other)

• Changes in the outline or shape ofthe breast causing flattening of theskin

• Dimpling, creasing or puckering of

the skin• A change in direction of the nipple

or if it has started to draw in (don'tworry about nipples which havealways been drawn in)

• Nipple discharge (some womenproduce a clear or milky dischargewhich is normal for them)

• New veins which stand out,particularly on one breast and notthe other

• Any skin changes on the breast ornipple

What am I feeling for?• Any areas of thickening• Any lumps whatever their shape or

form• Any lumpy areas• New or persistent pain or

tenderness within the breasts

Any changes you find which are new foryou must be checked by your doctor.

Remember that nine out of ten changesare completely harm.

Where can I get help?If you have any queries or problemsrelated to your health, please contact:Shaukat Khanum Memorial CancerHospital & Research Centre.

There are two ways of Breast Self -Examination and Awareness

• Looking• Feeling

Find a place or room in which you feelcomfortable that is also well lighten

1. Stand in front of a mirror; inspectboth breasts for anything unusualsuch as any discharge from thenipples or puckering, dimpling or,scaling of the skin.

2. Watching closely in the mirror, claspyour hands behind your head andpress your hands forward.

3. Next, press your hands firmly onyour hips and bow slightly towardsyour mirror as you pull yourshoulders and elbows forward.

Some women do the next part of theexamination in the shower becausefingers glide over soapy skin, making iteasy to concentrate on the textureunderneath.

4. Raise your left arm. Use three or fourfingers of your right hand to exploreyour left breast firmly, carefully, andthoroughly.

Beginning at the outer edge, press theflat part of your fingers in small circles,moving the circles slowly around thebreast. Gradually work toward the nipple.Be sure to cover the entire breast. Payspecial attention to the area betweenthe breast and the underarm, including

the underarm itself. Feel for any unusuallump under the skin.

5. Gently squeeze the nipple and lookfor a discharge. (If you have anydischarge during the month----whether or not it is during BreastSelf Examination --- go to yourdoctor). Repeat step 4 and 5 on your

right breast.

6. Steps 4 and 5 should be repeatedlying down. Lie flat on your backwith your left arm over your headand a pillow or folded towel underyour left shoulder.

This position flattens the breast andmakes it easier to examine. Use the samecircular motion described earlier. Repeatthe exam on your right breast.

What I am Looking For?• An increase or decrease in size (is

very common to have one breastlarger than the other)

• Changes in the outline or shape ofthe breast causing flattening of theskin

• Dimpling, creasing or puckering of

the skin• A change in direction of the nipple

or if it has started to draw in (don'tworry about nipples which havealways been drawn in)

• Nipple discharge (some womenproduce a clear or milky dischargewhich is normal for them)

• New veins which stand out,particularly on one breast and notthe other

• Any skin changes on the breast ornipple

What am I feeling for?• Any areas of thickening• Any lumps whatever their shape or

form• Any lumpy areas• New or persistent pain or

tenderness within the breasts

Any changes you find which are new foryou must be checked by your doctor.

Remember that nine out of ten changesare completely harm.

Where can I get help?If you have any queries or problemsrelated to your health, please contact:Shaukat Khanum Memorial CancerHospital & Research Centre.

There are two ways of Breast Self -Examination and Awareness

• Looking• Feeling

Find a place or room in which you feelcomfortable that is also well lighten

1. Stand in front of a mirror; inspectboth breasts for anything unusualsuch as any discharge from thenipples or puckering, dimpling or,scaling of the skin.

2. Watching closely in the mirror, claspyour hands behind your head andpress your hands forward.

3. Next, press your hands firmly onyour hips and bow slightly towardsyour mirror as you pull yourshoulders and elbows forward.

Some women do the next part of theexamination in the shower becausefingers glide over soapy skin, making iteasy to concentrate on the textureunderneath.

4. Raise your left arm. Use three or fourfingers of your right hand to exploreyour left breast firmly, carefully, andthoroughly.

Beginning at the outer edge, press theflat part of your fingers in small circles,moving the circles slowly around thebreast. Gradually work toward the nipple.Be sure to cover the entire breast. Payspecial attention to the area betweenthe breast and the underarm, including

the underarm itself. Feel for any unusuallump under the skin.

5. Gently squeeze the nipple and lookfor a discharge. (If you have anydischarge during the month----whether or not it is during BreastSelf Examination --- go to yourdoctor). Repeat step 4 and 5 on your

right breast.

6. Steps 4 and 5 should be repeatedlying down. Lie flat on your backwith your left arm over your headand a pillow or folded towel underyour left shoulder.

This position flattens the breast andmakes it easier to examine. Use the samecircular motion described earlier. Repeatthe exam on your right breast.

What I am Looking For?• An increase or decrease in size (is

very common to have one breastlarger than the other)

• Changes in the outline or shape ofthe breast causing flattening of theskin

• Dimpling, creasing or puckering of

the skin• A change in direction of the nipple

or if it has started to draw in (don'tworry about nipples which havealways been drawn in)

• Nipple discharge (some womenproduce a clear or milky dischargewhich is normal for them)

• New veins which stand out,particularly on one breast and notthe other

• Any skin changes on the breast ornipple

What am I feeling for?• Any areas of thickening• Any lumps whatever their shape or

form• Any lumpy areas• New or persistent pain or

tenderness within the breasts

Any changes you find which are new foryou must be checked by your doctor.

Remember that nine out of ten changesare completely harm.

Where can I get help?If you have any queries or problemsrelated to your health, please contact:Shaukat Khanum Memorial CancerHospital & Research Centre.

NURSING01-22Sept08-PIB4.1

Nursing Division

Breast Awareness

Shaukat Khanum MemorialCancer Hospital & Research Centre

7-A, Block R-3, Johar Town, LahoreTel: 042-35945100 UAN: 111-155-555

Toll Free Number: 0800-11555

All revenues from services treat needy Cancer patients

www.shaukatkhanum.org.pk

Patient Information