Wash your hands and choose a private, well-lit place
Remove clothing from the waist up
Stand in front of a mirror with your arms at your sides
Look for changes in size, shape, symmetry, skin texture, or nipple position
Raise your arms overhead and look again
Place your hands on your hips and press firmly to flex chest muscles
Look for dimpling, puckering, redness, swelling, or discharge
Lie down and place a pillow under the shoulder on the side being examined
Put the arm on that side behind your head
Use the pads of the three middle fingers of the opposite hand
Move the fingers in small circles
Cover the entire breast using a consistent pattern
Check from the collarbone to the top of the abdomen
Check from the armpit to the center of the chest
Use light, medium, and firm pressure on each area
Feel for lumps, thickening, or hard areas
Check the armpit and area above and below the collarbone
Gently squeeze each nipple to check for discharge
Repeat the exam on the other breast
Perform the exam at the same time each month
Contact a healthcare professional if you notice any unusual changes