When should one palpate the breast?
The best time for self-sampling is about one week after your last menstruation, as the breasts are soft then and allow easy palpation. Due to the hormonal influence, the breasts become larger and more sensitive to pain before menstruation, so palpation during this period is uncomfortable and is not recommended.
How often should one palpate the breast?
It is recommended that women over 30 years of age should self-select by palpation at least once a month. Regular self-examination is important for the early detection of breast cancer, but it does not replace the medical check-up at the gynaecologist, which should be carried out additionally every year.
What should be observed during breast palpation?
It is important to note that no two breasts are the same and that your own breast changes several times in the course of your life. The breast is a gland that is subject to hormonal fluctuations. That is why changes in the tissue occur within a menstrual cycle, during pregnancy and breastfeeding, during menopause and when taking the contraceptive pill.
This should be kept in mind during self-examination in order not to worry unnecessarily. In addition, not every lump that is palpated means breast cancer immediately. Especially in young women, these are usually harmless changes, such as cysts or benign tumours of the breast (fibroadenomas).
Benign lumps can be recognized by the fact that they are clearly demarcated from the surrounding tissue and can be easily moved against the overlying skin. Malignant tumours can only be palpated from a certain size onwards, in the best case a lump is only noticeable from a size of one centimetre upwards. This means that tumour diseases with clearly palpable nodes are already more advanced.
It is therefore very important not to regard self-examination as a substitute for medical breast cancer screening. From the age of 30, the gynaecologist examines the breasts for changes every year and from the age of 50 it is recommended to go for mammography screening every two years. If there are any abnormalities during the self-examination, this should always be discussed and clarified with gynaecologists, because the earlier breast cancer is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances of recovery. The self-examination can also be discussed with the gynaecologist, who can help if anything is unclear. This topic might also be of interest to you: How to detect breast cancer
