What should I look for when doing a breast self-check?

According to Dr. Amy Comander, you should check for lumps and for skin changes on or around the breasts. If you find a lump, notice its shape and size and whether it causes pain. She says to look for bulging, dimpling, puckering, redness or rash, swelling, and thickening or scaling.

What should I do if I find a lump in my breast?

Don’t panic, says Dr. Comander. Most lumps turn out to be benign (noncancerous). Still, it’s important to seek medical attention if you notice a lump or a change in your breasts, and you can make an appointment for a physical exam and mammogram.

Does a skin change on my breast mean I have breast cancer?

Not necessarily. Dr. Comander says many things can cause skin changes, including infections, eczema, and allergies. But she says it’s important to seek medical attention if you notice them.

How often should I check my breasts?

There’s no set schedule, but Dr. Comander recommends checking once a month so you’re aware of what’s normal for your body.

What’s the best thing I can do for my breast health this month?

Schedule your screening mammogram or confirm you’re up to date, says Dr. Comander. She calls it the single highest-value, evidence-based step, because screening mammography is the only breast cancer screening action shown to reduce mortality, whereas breast self-exams are not.

How to Do a Breast Self-Check: What to Look For

In partnership with

Lara here, Girlboss’ contributing writer. 👋

October is wonderful for many reasons: it’s officially sweater weather, 🧣 it’s the start of spooky season, 🎃 and it’s also Breast Cancer Awareness Month. 🎀

Because your girls deserve the very best, we caught up with an expert to find out how we can be proactive about the health of our breasts, from how to do a breast self-check to knowing what to look for. It’s not scary, we promise! 🫂

Other stuff the Girlboss team is talking about on Slack:

It’s official: women really do feel more pain than men.
We’ll be eating like Nigella Lawson until further notice, TYVM.

💼 Job of the day: Amika is hiring an AVP, Influencer, Communications + Cultural Strategy to lead their influencer ecosystem, from creators to stylists to media! 💇‍♀️ It’s a major opportunity to lead the comms strategy for one of the most beloved haircare brands on the market. Plus, we have a feeling you’ll have no bad hair days in this role. 😉

Your No-Panic Guide to Getting to Know Your Breasts

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