The key is early detection
The key is early detection
Checking your breasts is all about getting to know what your breasts normally look and feel like.
There’s no ‘right’ way to check your breasts. It’s just important to know your normal and to check regularly for any unusual changes. The best time to do a self-check is usually the week after your period, when your breasts aren’t as tender or lumpy.
The five year survival rate for women with early stage breast cancer in New Zealand is 91%, highlighting just how important it is to be aware of how to perform self-checks for early detection.
Follow the below steps to put your health first and conduct your own self-check. If you find something that doesn’t seem normal, it’s important you consult your doctor.
Checking your breasts is all about getting to know what your breasts normally look and feel like.
There’s no ‘right’ way to check your breasts. It’s just important to know your normal and to check regularly for any unusual changes. The best time to do a self-check is usually the week after your period, when your breasts aren’t as tender or lumpy.
The five year survival rate for women with early stage breast cancer in New Zealand is 91%, highlighting just how important it is to be aware of how to perform self-checks for early detection.
Follow the below steps to put your health first and conduct your own self-check. If you find something that doesn’t seem normal, it’s important you consult your doctor.
Check By Touching
![Step one: how to self check for breast cancer](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0069/7348/9222/files/BreastCancer_Touch_1-01.png?v=1726456399")
1. Raise one arm above your head.
2. Press into your breast with your fingertips, feeling for any changes.
3. Check the entire breast area, moving in a circular motion.
4. Repeat, moving up and down.
Check By Looking
It can be scary to find a change that doesn’t feel or look normal, but it’s important to get any concerning signs checked out by your GP, even if you’ve had a mammogram recently.
It is important to remember that most breast changes are not caused by cancer, and the signs and symptoms can be caused by other medical conditions. However, if you have noticed any symptoms or changes in your breasts, it is important that you see your doctor without delay so that the changes can be checked.
If you feel a lump or thickening of a breast, get checked out immediately. If you notice any changes to the shape or size of one of your breasts, or the colour of one of your nipples, get it checked out by a health professional.
If you’ve had a breast change checked out by your GP and they aren’t concerned, but it continues to grow or change, make sure to return for another check or seek a second opinion.
It can be scary to find a change that doesn’t feel or look normal, but it’s important to get any concerning signs checked out by your GP, even if you’ve had a mammogram recently.
It is important to remember that most breast changes are not caused by cancer, and the signs and symptoms can be caused by other medical conditions. However, if you have noticed any symptoms or changes in your breasts, it is important that you see your doctor without delay so that the changes can be checked.
If you feel a lump or thickening of a breast, get checked out immediately. If you notice any changes to the shape or size of one of your breasts, or the colour of one of your nipples, get it checked out by a health professional.
If you’ve had a breast change checked out by your GP and they aren’t concerned, but it continues to grow or change, make sure to return for another check or seek a second opinion.
