Breast cancer is the commonest cancer in women in Sri Lanka [1]. If detected early, breast cancer can be cured. Therefore, it is important that women undergo self-breast examinations and clinical breast examinations regularly.

Self-breast examination vs clinical breast examination

The National Cancer Control Programme recommends that all women over the age of 20 years should look and feel their breasts themselves – Self Breast Examination. The best time to do this is one week after your period began [2].

A clinical breast examination is where a doctor examines the breasts. This should be done every 3 years if between 20-40 years of age and then annually if over 40 years.

Self-breast examination steps

Undress from the waist up and remove your bra.

1st step - Inspect your breast in the mirror whilst standing. Keep arms by side, then hands pressed against your hips and then with your arms raised over the head. Look for any differences in the breast and nipple including changes in the skin, colour or shape of the breast. Also look for any rashes, swelling, dimpling or nipple changes.

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2nd step - Use the pulp of the middle three fingers to feel the breast whilst sitting or lying down. When examining the right breast, raise the right arm over the head and palpate with the left hand. Palpate the breast in a clockwise direction from outside the breast towards the nipple.

3rd step - After feeling the breast, gently squeeze the nipple using the thumb and middle finger to look for a nipple discharge. Then continue to feel around the armpit for any lumps.

4th step - Repeat the procedure on the left breast

- What to do if you find a lump?

In the event you find a lump, any skin changes/nipple changes or a nipple discharge (not breast milk), please speak to a medical doctor so a clinical breast examination and further investigations, if necessary, can be done.

References

1. National Cancer Control Programme, Ministry of Health (2021) Sri Lanka Cancer Registry 2019: Cancer Incidence & Mortality date in Sri Lanka. [Accessed at: Here]

2. National Cancer Control Programme, Ministry of Health (2021) National Guidelines for Self-breast Examination and Clinical Breast Examination. [Accessed at: Here]