Breast self exams?

Question:

I am 41 years old. I always go for my yearly physicals and mammograms. Still, when I try and examine my breast at home I really have no idea what I am feeling because my breast feel lumpy all of the time. They have always been like this. I even took a class on how to do a self examination, but I just don't feel confident. My doctor always says things feel fine and the mammograms come back fine. Does anyone have lumpy or funny feeling things in their breasts?

Answers:
The thing your looking for when you do the self exam is something abnormal for YOUR body. So ignore the usual lumpys and if you find one thats harder or more extreme, thats when to go to the doctor.

Mine feel like they are full of rice krispies. I'm told that a lump will really stand out if you have one. It's hard. I still worry that I might miss it but my gyno says that I will know.

If you do monthly exams, you will soon learn what should be there and what shouldn't. If you just had one at the doctors then you have a baseline.

They say most women find them while showering. The soap helps your fingers glide better I guess.

I am 40 and still have very lumpy breast. The main thing you are looking for is change. You do the exams every month so you know what belongs there and what doesn't.

many women have lumpy breasts. the reason you're doing your own examination is to become familiar with the natural lumps you already have, you're trying to find a lump that is unlike the rest. if you have a lot of lumps, you'll need to practice a lot so that you'll be able to tell what's new.

You probably have fibrocystic breasts. When that's the case, it is hard to tell what you're feeling in you breasts. If you continue to do the exams, you will start to be more familiar with your breasts. Do your exams about one week after your period. This is when your breasts are the least lumpy. The cysts in your breast will get larger 3 or 4 days before your period and continue through your cycle. This is why you may have breast tenderness before you start. If you feel a lump that feels hard like a bb. See your doctor asap. Those would be the most worrisome. To be safe, anything that seems different in your breast, see a doctor. Don't forget to look at your breasts in the mirror for changes. Please don't skip the BSE's, a mammogram cannot do all of the work.

Breast self exams?

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