Recently, television actress Hina Khan opened up about her breast cancer diagnosis. The 36-year-old Yeh Rishta Kya Kehlata Hai actress revealed that she has been diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer and that she is determined to overcome the disease. Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in the world, where 1 in 12 women are diagnosed with the disease in high Human Development Index (HDI) countries, and 1 in 27 women are diagnosed with the cancer in low HDI countries.

According to a study, 1 in 28 Indian women may encounter breast cancer, and this is the most common type of cancer, surpassing even cervical, ovarian and uterine cancers.  With an increase in cases of breast cancer, especially in Indian women, is there a way to check for breast cancer without specific medical exams? Sure, there is – a breast self-exam. 

Related: 7 Medical Tests All Women Must Take To Ensure A Healthy, Happy Life

Symptoms of breast cancer

• Lump in the breast: This is often the first noticeable symptom of breast cancer.
• Change in breast size or shape: Pay attention to any unusual changes in the breast size or shape.
• Skin changes: Dimpling, redness, or scaling of the breast skin are symptomatic of a bigger problem.
• Nipple changes: Inversion, discharge, or pain in the nipples must be treated cautiously.
• Swelling or lump in the armpit: It could indicate that the cancer is spreading to lymph nodes.

Related: 6 Celebrities Who Battled Breast Cancer And Came Out Victorious

How to do a breast self-exam?

One of the best ways to check for breast cancer is by doing a self-examination at home. While this won’t definitively tell you that you have cancer, it will alert you to any changes in your breasts that could need medical attention.

Step 1- Visually examine your breasts

• Stand naked in front of a large mirror and place your hands on your hips.
• Check your breasts for changes in symmetry, size, shape or volume. Also, check for dimpling, pitting, puckering or redness.
• Check your nipples for changes, such as inversion or unusual discharge.
• Lift both arms over your head and repeat the entire process.

Step 2- Manually examine your breasts while standing

• Stand in front of the mirror and use your right hand to check your left breast.
• Using the pads of three fingers, press on every part of the breast and underarm area to check for lumps, masses, thickened areas, knots, and changes in texture. Follow a circular pattern to ensure no area is missed.
• Gently squeeze your nipple to check for unusual discharge.
• Repeat the manual inspection using your left hand to check your right breast.

Step 3- Manually examine your breasts while lying down

• Lie face up on a bed or couch, place a pillow under your left shoulder and place your left hand behind your head.
• Use your right hand to check your left breast using the techniques mentioned in step 2.
• Repeat the manual inspection while lying down using your left hand to check your right breast.

Step 4- Manually examine your breasts in the shower

• Use the pads of your fingers to feel your breasts while your skin is wet and slippery.
• Move your fingers in a circular motion from the outside to the centre of each breast, checking the entire breast and armpit area.
• Look for any lumps, thickening, or hardened knots.

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