Check your breasts once a month, ideally a few days after your period ends
If you no longer have periods, choose the same day each month
Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders straight and arms at your sides
Look for changes in size, shape, symmetry, skin, or nipple position
Raise your arms and look for the same changes
Place your hands on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles
Lie down and use the pads of your fingers to feel your breast tissue
Use a circular, up-and-down, or wedge pattern to cover the entire breast
Check from the collarbone to the top of the abdomen
Check from the armpit to the cleavage
Feel the area around and under the nipple
Use light, medium, and firm pressure to feel different tissue depths
Check both breasts and the armpits
Feel for lumps, thickened areas, hard spots, or changes from your usual breast tissue
Note any pain, swelling, redness, warmth, dimpling, or nipple discharge
Repeat the same steps on the other breast
Contact a healthcare professional if you find a new lump or any unusual change