Breast Self-Examination Step 1: With your shoulders level and your arms on your hips, begin looking at your breasts in the mirror. Here is what you should look for: Are the breasts their usual size, shape, and color Are the breasts even in texture, and are there any noticeable deformities or swelling You should consult your doctor if you see any of the following changes: dimpling, wrinkling, or swelling of the skin One nipple has changed position or the nipple is sunken in (sunken inward instead of sticking out) Redness, pain, rash, or swelling Breast Self-Examination Steps 2 and 3 Step 2: Now, raise your arm and do the same observation. Step 3: While you are looking in the mirror, watch for signs of fluid coming out of one or both nipples (it may be watery, milky or yellow fluid or blood) Breast Self Exam Step 4 Step 4: Next, touch your breast while lying down, touch your left breast with your right hand, then your right breast with your left hand. Using the first few fingers of your hand, keep your fingers straight and together and keep touching smoothly. Use a turning motion, splitting the circle by about a quarter turn. Cover your entire breast from top to bottom, from side to side – from your collarbone to the top of your stomach and from your armpit to your cleavage. Follow a pattern to make sure you cover your entire breast. You can start at the nipple and touch in larger and larger circles until you reach the outer edge of the breast. You can also move your fingers up and down vertically, as if you were mowing the lawn. This upward and downward approach seems to be the most appropriate for most women. Be sure to feel all the breast tissue from the front to the back: use light pressure on the skin and tissue directly below; medium pressure on the middle of the breast; and some force on the deeper tissue behind. You should be able to feel your chest when you touch the deeper tissues. Breast self-examination step 5 Step 5: Touch your breasts while standing or sitting. Many women find it easiest to touch their breasts when the skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movement method described in Step 4.