Rethink encourages all women to get familiar with their breasts. There is no need to follow a fancy routine for examining your breasts, just be familiar with how they look and feel so that you notice changes.
Show your breasts some TLC: Touch. Look. Check.
TOUCH your breasts and feel for anything unusual. LOOK for changes and be aware of shape and texture. CHECK anything unusual with your doctor.
You can do this by looking and feeling in any way that makes you feel comfortable - in the bath or shower, when dressing, standing or lying down. If you find anything unusual or are worried, you should talk to your GP.
Changes to look out for include:
Size or shape - e.g. one breast might become larger or lower than the other.
Skin texture - such as puckering or dimpling of the skin.
Appearance or direction of nipple - e.g. one nipple might become inverted (turned-in).
Discharge - one or both nipples might discharge a blood-stained liquid
Rash or crusting of the nipple or surrounding area.
Lump in the breast or armpit.
Lumpy area or unusual thickening of breast tissue that doesn't go away after a woman's period.
Pain in part of the breast or armpit that is unrelated to periods.
Remember that nine out of ten breast lumps are not cancerous.
