Wondering if you should check your breasts at home? Here is what experts want you to know.

Finding a new lump or unexpected change in your breasts can feel scary. It is completely normal to feel worried when your body changes in ways you do not expect. Many people wonder if they should check their own breasts at home every single month.

Let us explore what a breast self-exam really is and how it helps you stay healthy. Knowing your own body is a powerful tool for your lifelong health and peace of mind.

What is a Breast Self-Exam?

Simply put, a breast self-exam is a way for you to learn the normal feel and look of your breasts. This means you become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel to your touch. If you notice any unusual change later on, you can spot it right away.

An unusual change might be a new lump, a change in your skin, or fluid coming from your nipple. When you notice these changes early, you can talk to your doctor quickly. Global health groups like the World Health Organization and the NHS remind us that body awareness is very helpful.

However, we must understand one important clinical fact here. Doctors do not recommend self-exams as the primary method to find breast cancer. Medical studies show that self-exams alone do not lower breast cancer death rates overall. Sometimes, finding harmless lumps causes unnecessary worry and leads to extra tests or biopsies.

If you have a higher risk of breast cancer because it runs in your family, self-exams are still useful. Also, if you are under age 40 or over age 74, routine yearly mammograms might not be standard. In those age groups, knowing your body helps you stay relaxed and informed.

Always ask your doctor if regular self-exams fit your personal health history. Your doctor can guide you based on your age and your family health background.

Who Should Do This Check?

If you have a strong family history of breast cancer, doctors may suggest checking your breasts monthly starting at age 20. You can continue doing these checks safely during pregnancy and even after menopause.

Anyone with breast tissue can develop breast cancer. However, biological sex plays a big role in your risk level. Studies show that cisgender women face a much higher risk than cisgender men.

Different groups of people should also understand how breast health applies to them:

• Transgender men: If you have not had a chest reconstruction surgery or top surgery, you should stay aware of changes. Doctors often recommend yearly mammograms after age 40 if you have breast tissue. You can also do chest self-exams to learn your normal feel.
• Transgender women: If you take hormone therapy like estrogen or progesterone for five years or more, your breast cancer risk rises. Regular mammogram screenings are very important for you. Breast implants do not raise cancer risk, but they can make mammogram imaging a bit more challenging.
• Nonbinary people: If you were assigned female at birth and still have breast tissue, follow standard screening guidelines. If you have had chest surgery to remove tissue, talk to your doctor about alternative checks like ultrasounds.
• Men: Men can get breast cancer too, though it is much less common. If breast cancer runs in your family, ask your doctor if monthly checks make sense for you. Male breast cancer is most often diagnosed in older adults between ages 60 and 70.

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What Changes Should You Look For?

If you have regular menstrual periods, the best time to check your breasts is right after your period ends. At that time, your breasts are less swollen, tender, or lumpy. If you do not have periods, pick the exact same day every month, like the first day of the month.

Checking your breasts takes only a few minutes of your time. Keep an eye out for any of the common warning signs listed below.

How to Do a Breast Self-Exam Correctly

If you choose to do regular self-exams, follow these three simple steps. These methods are recommended by leading health organizations like the Mayo Clinic and the CDC.

1. Standing in Front of a Mirror

Strip to the waist and stand in front of a bright mirror in a comfortable room.

• First, let your arms hang relaxed at your sides and look straight at your breasts. It is completely normal if one breast is slightly larger than the other. Look for any new changes in size, shape, dimples, or skin color.
• Next, press your hands firmly on your hips and flex your chest muscles. Turn from side to side to view the outer edges of your breasts.
• Then, bend forward slightly and pull your shoulders and elbows forward. This makes your breasts hang down so you can check their shape.
• Finally, place both hands behind your head and press your hands forward. Turn from side to side again to check the lower and outer areas.
• Check your nipples for discharge by placing your thumb and index finger around the base. Gently squeeze toward the nipple to see if any fluid appears. Repeat this on both sides.

2. In the Shower

Wet skin and soapy water make your fingers glide smoothly over your skin.

• Check your underarms for any lumps or swollen lymph nodes. Put your left hand on your hip and use your right hand to feel your left underarm. Switch sides and do the same for your right underarm.
• Feel carefully above and below your collarbone for any unusual bumps.
• Put one hand behind your head to flatten your breast tissue. Use the pads of your fingers on your other hand to press gently.
• Use an up-and-down pattern. Start from your collarbone down to your bra line, covering every inch of breast tissue. Repeat this on both sides.

3. Lying Down

Lying flat spreads your breast tissue evenly across your chest wall.

• Lie down on your back and place a small pillow or folded towel under your right shoulder. Put your right hand under your head.
• Use the finger pads of your left hand to check your right breast. Using a bit of body lotion can make this step smoother.
• Imagine your breast like the face of a clock. Start at 12 o'clock and move in small circles around the edge. Work your way around the entire clock circle.
• After completing one full circle, move your fingers about one inch closer to the nipple and do another circle. Repeat this until you have checked the entire breast, including the armpit area.
• Finish by placing your fingers directly over your nipple and checking that central tissue area.

What to Do If You Feel a Lump

First of all, do not panic. Not every lump or new change in your breast is cancer. Many lumps turn out to be harmless cysts, benign fibroadenomas, or normal hormonal tissue shifts.

However, if you notice any new or unusual sign that does not go away after your next period, call your doctor promptly.