How to Perform a Self Exam
Self Exam Tutorial
The Fondle Project founder, Gina, shares a step by step guide on how to perform your exams at home. The best time to do your self exams is 3-5 days after your cycle. If you’ve gone through menopause, do your exam on the same day every month. There are two components to a self exam, look and feel.
Step by step:
1. Get naked ladies. Look in the mirror for any physical changes in the shape, size, or position of your breasts/nipples. Stand tall and turn side to side.
2. Using the pads of your three middle fingers, start running your fingers along your clavicle and chest using gentle pressure.
3.Using three fingers, go around your breast in circular motions.
4. Don’t forget to feel under your arm and around your nipple.
What you should look out for:
- changes in the way your breasts look or feel (i.e. prominent fullness that is different from the surrounding tissue
- redness, warmth, swelling or pain
- dimples, puckers, bulges or ridges on the skin of your breast
- a recent change in a nipple to become inverted
- itching, sores or rashes
Self Exam for Breasties
For my breasties, here’s a gentle reminder that even though we might be on the other end of reconstruction and surgery, it’s incredibly important to stay vigilant and on top of our self examinations. We want to avoid recurrence and if so, catch it early!
Make sure to:
- check for any changes around your scars
- apply gentle pressure to the lymph nodes and areas around and beneath your armpit
- always make sure to check for physical changes in appearance (breast shape and/or swelling)
Make these self exams part of your daily routine just as you would with brushing your teeth, washing your face and getting yourself dressed.