Breast self-examination (BSE) is a technique for individuals to check their breasts for physical or visual changes, aiding in early breast cancer detection. It should be performed monthly, ideally starting at age 20, with specific methods to inspect and palpate the breasts for abnormalities. BSE can help identify lumps or other symptoms that may indicate cancer, enhancing early stage assessment.

1. BREAST SELF
EXAMINATION(BSE)

3. DEFINITION
• BREAST-SELF-EXAMINATION IS A TECHNIQUE WHICH ALLOWS AN
INDIVIDUAL TO EXAMINE HER BREAST FOR ANY PHYSICAL OR VISUAL
CHANGES.
• IT IS OFTEN USED AS AN EARLY DETECTION METHOD FOR BREAST
CANCER.
• BREAST SELF EXAMINATION IS THE INSPECTION AND PALPATION OF
THE BREAST BY THE WOMAN HERSELF.

4. WHEN TO DO BSE
• GENERALLY BSE CAN STARTED FROM AGE 20YRS & CONTINUED
THROUGHOUT THE LIFE.
• THE BEST TIME FOR BSE IS USUALLY 1 WEEK AFTER THE MENSTRUAL
CYCLE, WHEN THE BREASTS ARE LEAST TENDER.
• IT SHOULD BE DONE ON SAME DATE OF EACH MONTH.

5. PURPOSE OF BSE
• SCREENING FOR BREAST CANCER

6. Step 1: Stand in front of a mirror
Stand straight with hands on your sides so that you will be
able to see your breasts clearly. Check for the following
symptoms by using your hands to examine your breasts.
Make sure to use the fat pads of the fingertips of the 3
middle fingers:
change in the size or shape of your breast
Development of a lump
 Bloody discharge from the nipple
Breast swelling
Redness, thickening, or dimpling of the skin
Swollen lymph nodes under the arms
Pain and redness in the nipple
Pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast
Pain that is localized in one area and that does not vary
with your monthly cycle.
STEPS OF BSE

7. STEP 2: ARMS OVER YOUR HEAD
• STAND STRAIGHT WITH YOUR ARMS RAISED ABOVE YOUR HEAD OR
INTERLOCKED BEHIND YOUR HEAD. OBSERVE YOUR BREASTS THE
SAME WAY AS YOU DID IN STEP 1 TO CHECK FOR ANY SYMPTOMS.

8. STEP 3: HANDS ON YOUR HIPS WHILE BENDING FORWARD
PRESS YOUR HANDS FIRMLY ON YOUR HIPS AND BEND SLIGHTLY
TOWARD THE MIRROR AS YOU FEEL YOUR CHEST MUSCLE TIGHTEN.
OBSERVE AND CHECK FOR ANY SYMPTOMS.

9. STEP 4: LIE DOWN FLAT ON YOUR BACK
• IT IS BEST TO EXAMINE THE BREASTS LYING DOWN AS YOUR BREAST
TISSUES SPREAD EVENLY OVER THE CHEST. PUT ONE SHOULDER ON A
PILLOW OR A FOLDED TOWEL AND PLACE ONE ARM OVER YOUR HEAD.
YOUR BREAST WILL BE FLATTENED IN THIS POSITION SO THAT IT IS EASIER
TO CHECK.
• LOTION OR POWDER IS USED BY SOME WOMEN SO THAT THEIR FINGERS
CAN EASILY GLIDE ON THE SKIN WHILE FEELING FOR LUMPS. MAKE SURE
TO COVER THE ENTIRE BREAST AREA.

10. STEP 5: CONDUCT BSE WHILE YOU SHOWER
• YOUR SOAPY SKIN CAN EASILY MAKE YOUR FINGERS GLIDE SO THAT IT
BECOMES EASIER TO FEEL FOR CHANGES UNDERNEATH.
• USING PATTERNS WILL HELP YOU MAKE A MORE THOROUGH BREAST SELF-
EXAMINATION. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT THE WHOLE BREAST IS PALPATED, FOR
THAT KEEP YOUR FINGERS FLAT & START PALPATING FROM THE COLLAR
BONE TO THE STERNUM OR MIDCHEST, BELOW THE BREAST AND THEN ALL
THE WAY OUT INTO THE UNDERARM SHOULD ALSO BE EXAMINED.

11. BELOW ARE SOME OF THE PATTERNS YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR BSE.
• LINE PATTERNS: YOUR FINGERS NEED TO MOVE UP AND DOWN STARTING IN THE
UNDERARM AREA AND COVERING THE WHOLE BREAST AREA. DO THE MOVEMENT SLOWLY.
• CIRCLE PATTERN: MOVE YOUR FINGERS SLOWLY FROM THE OUTER EDGE OF THE BREAST
AND AROUND THE WHOLE BREAST IN A CIRCLE. WORK TOWARD THE NIPPLE MAKING
SMALLER AND SMALLER CIRCLES. MAKE SURE TO ALSO CHECK THE AREAS UNDER THE ARM
AND THE UPPER CHEST.
• YOU CAN ALSO BEGIN FROM THE NIPPLE, MOVING IN LARGER AND LARGER CIRCLES UNTIL
YOU REACH THE OUTER EDGE OF THE BREAST.
• WEDGE PATTERN: DIVIDE THE BREAST AREA INTO WEDGE SECTIONS AND START AT THE
OUTER EDGE OF THE BREAST AND MOVE TOWARDS THE NIPPLE, THEN BACK TO THE EDGE.
YOU ALSO NEED TO APPLY 3 DIFFERENT LEVELS OF PRESSURE TO EXAMINE YOUR BREASTS.
• YOU NEED TO EXERT LIGHT PRESSURE WHEN EXAMINING THE TISSUE CLOSEST TO THE SKIN
• APPLY MEDIUM PRESSURE SO THAT YOU CAN FEEL A LITTLE DEEPER.
• APPLY FIRM PRESSURE TO FEEL DEEPER TISSUES NEAR THE CHEST WALL.

12. STEP 6: EXAMINE YOUR NIPPLES
• BLEEDING DISCHARGES FROM THE NIPPLE SHOULD ALSO BE
CHECKED. TO DO SO, SQUEEZE THE NIPPLE GENTLY TO FIND OUT IF
THERE IS BLEEDING OR ANY DISCHARGE.
• MAKE SURE NOT TO SKIP ANY AREAS OF THE BREAST, WHICHEVER
METHOD YOU USE.

14. ADVANTAGES OF BSE
• POTENTIAL TO FIND A MASS OR OTHER SYMPTOMS THAT RESULTS IN
CANCER DETECTION.
• TO ASSESS BREAST CANCER AT AN EARLY STAGE.