How can I check my breasts at home, and how often should I do it?

Breast self-awareness means becoming familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel, so you can recognize new or unusual changes. While routine, formal step-by-step breast self-exams are no longer recommended by many medical organizations as a screening method for women at average risk, regularly paying attention to your breasts can still be helpful.

You can check your breasts in five simple steps:

🪞 Look in the mirror: With your arms relaxed and then raised, look for changes in breast size or shape, skin dimpling, redness, swelling, or changes in the nipple.

💧 Check for nipple discharge: Notice any unusual fluid, especially if it is bloody.

🤲 Feel your breasts while lying down: Using the pads of your fingers, gently feel the entire breast in small circular motions, covering the area from the collarbone to the upper abdomen and from the armpit to the center of the chest.

🚿 Check while standing or showering: Repeat the same gentle examination while standing or sitting. The skin being wet and slippery may make this easier.

🔎 Know your normal: Pay attention to how different areas of your breasts normally feel, because breast tissue can naturally feel lumpy or uneven. (BreastCancer.org)

How often?
There is no medically required schedule for formal breast self-exams for women at average risk. Instead, make breast self-awareness a regular habit. If you menstruate, checking yourself a few days after your period ends may be more comfortable because the breasts are usually less swollen and tender. If you no longer have periods, choose an easy-to-remember day, such as the beginning or end of each month.

Remember: A new lump or breast change does not automatically mean cancer—many breast changes are benign. However, if you notice a new or persistent change, such as a lump, skin dimpling, nipple inversion, swelling, or unusual discharge, it should be evaluated by a healthcare professional. Breast self-awareness is not a replacement for recommended breast cancer screening or medical examinations.