Male Health Tips: Male Breast Self Exam

Women aren’t the only ones who can contract breast cancer. Though rare, men are at risk of the often fatal disease also. It’s best to be safe and check regularly for lumps. This is a simple procedure that only takes a few minutes. Keep in mind that early detection can lead to pro-active treatment, increasing your chances of recovery.Women aren’t the only ones who can contract breast cancer. Though rare, men are at risk of the often fatal disease also. It’s best to be safe and check regularly for lumps. This is a simple procedure that only takes a few minutes. Keep in mind that early detection can lead to pro-active treatment, increasing your chances of recovery.

Follow the steps outlined below. It’s recommended that you do this once a month, particularly if there is a history of cancer in your family, if you smoke or have smoked at any time in your life, or are employed in a high risk profession.

 

Set a specific day each month to perform your male breast self exam.

You’ll want to make sure you’re on a regular cycle for breast exams, so schedule a specific day each month when you’re going to do them. It doesn’t have to be a calendar date. Those can be difficult to maintain. Many men choose a day, like the first Saturday for instance, to perform their monthly exam.

 

Your bath or shower is usually the best place.

In addition to being naked and relaxed, your skin will also be more pliant and supple to the touch. You can also use the soap or body wash to make the inspection area slippery to the touch. This will help your fingers slide over the inspection area and alleviate any discomfort from poking or squeezing.

 

Put one arm being your head and use the other for the exam.

Put the arm located on the side you’re examining behind your head, pulling the skin flat and tight. Then use your three main fingers on the opposite hand to do the examination. Start at the outer edge of the breast and press down while moving your fingers in a circle around the breast. Move inward on each rotation, maintaining pressure.

 

Check the nipple and then repeat on opposite side.

When your circular motion reaches the middle of the breast, you should then check the nipple for any discharge, puckering, or retraction. Any significant problem should be clearly apparent. Once complete, switch sides, putting the other hand behind your head and doing an exam with the opposite set of fingers.

 

Stand in front of a mirror.Stand in front of a mirror.

Once the manual exam is complete, stand in front of a mirror and do a visual examination. Look for any changes in skin color or texture that might have resulted from the manual examine and turn sideways in both directions to see if any lumps can be seen from the side.

 

Contact your doctor if you find anything.

Eighty percent of breast lumps are not cancerous. They are caused by a benign condition known as gynecomastia. Despite that comforting fact, you should still contact your doctor if you find a lump. There’s a one in five chance it could be cancerous.