How to perform a proper breast self-exam?

hey, this one's for all my girls living over in Germany

so, here's how you actually do a proper breast self-exam

darkviper5, killer link, thanks a ton!!!🙂

darkviper5 said:Here's a resource for all my ladies in the German-speaking community

how to properly perform a breast self-exam

👍 🙏

darkviper5, this link is awesome—thanks. It covers everything visually, so I’m actually going to follow these steps tonight. Plus, it's perfect for anyone who doesn't speak German since you can just follow the video—super helpful.

I always seem to find "something" whenever I do a self-exam during my PMS window.
I’ll never forget the first time I felt a hard lump; I couldn't even sleep that night, though everything turned out to be fine.
My doctor does an annual breast exam and a Pap smear when I go in for my checkups. She also suggests that I should perform my own self-exams a few days after my period ends.

Now, ladies, I realize you’ll probably think I’ve lost my mind and come for my head, but I have recently encountered several perspectives suggesting that performing breast self-exams is an exercise in futility and shouldn't be done at all for various reasons.
If you are genuinely concerned about your health, wouldn't it make more sense to leave those examinations to a medical professional?

First, there is the issue of false security; after all, you aren't a trained physician.

Second, isn't it true that we often find exactly what we are looking for?
One should focus on maintaining wellness rather than actively hunting for illness. While this might sound like mere philosophy, I truly believe in the power of intention—if I spend my days obsessing over the possibility of cancer and constantly probing my body for issues, am I not essentially inviting that energy into my life? What you focus your energy upon tends to manifest.

For these reasons, I have decided against self-examinations. I would much rather attend my annual physical and let a doctor handle the screening properly.

Oh my gosh, I am seriously at a loss for words after reading what you wrote here 😢
I honestly can't believe there are actually women out there who think the way you do 😢

So, about those self-exams—you’re saying they should be done every single month, right? But does that mean we all need to be running to the gynecologist every month too, just because we aren't medical professionals or anything? 😕
And yeah, okay, I get it, it's super hard at first to tell if you're feeling normal tissue or something else entirely, but I guess you just have to practice until you get it down perfectly, right? I mean, nobody is born knowing how to do this stuff, not even the doctors 😉
And that whole part about it being better not to look because you might find something... 🙄
Come on, maybe just go back and read through my previous posts one more time
Do you really think I would have been poking around and checking myself if I hadn't felt something suspicious that I then had to go get treated for?
I really want to emphasize again that the whole big advantage here is that if something *does* get caught during those early stages of development, the chances of successful treatment are incredibly high, at least before anything has a chance to metastasize
Of course, that isn't some kind of magic guarantee for a long life, but personally, doing my own checks is what gave me more time, and I am just so incredibly grateful for that 🙂

It isn’t merely a matter of my own personal opinion.
The medical community itself has documented this, and there are countless physicians who share this exact perspective.
Those articles were authored by professionals, not by me.

Relying on self-examinations can lead to a dangerous sense of false security—so if you are truly concerned, why not schedule a professional check-up with a doctor three times a year?

I visit my physician once a year, and she has told me quite plainly that these self-exams are nothing more than nonsense.

darkviper5 said:Do you honestly believe I would just sit here without feeling anything or noticing a symptom if I weren't actually going to seek medical treatment for it?

That was never my point. My assertion was simply that negative thoughts, anxiety, and constant worry contribute to physical illness; those who remain fixated on their fears and potential ailments tend to fall ill more frequently.
Is it not true that when one focuses on the positive, one creates positive experiences?

Norris said:Look, it’s not even like it’s just MY opinion here.
The doctors themselves actually wrote those things, and honestly, there are tons of them who feel the exact same way.
They’re the ones who authored those articles, not me.

I mean, if you rely solely on self-exams, you might end up with this totally false sense of security—so, I guess, if you're already feeling anxious about it, maybe just head to the doctor three times a year for a legit checkup.

Personally, I go once a year, and my doctor told me the same thing—that doing these little self-checks can be kind of pointless.

I mean, there are all kinds of doctors out there... and obviously, everyone has their own little theories and different takes on things.
At the end of the day, it's really up to you to decide who you want to listen to and what you want to believe.

As for me, I don't do self-exams because, well, I'm scared that I might actually find something; instead, I get checked so that if I *do* happen to feel something, we can catch it "in time" while it's still in those early stages where treatment actually works well, before it has a chance to spread...

But, I really don't have any intention of trying to convince you that self-exams are absolutely necessary or useful.
Everyone is responsible for their own health, so I suppose everyone should just decide and do whatever they feel is best for them.
I truly wish you nothing but the best. 🙂

In any given case, anyone who chooses to self-diagnose ought to supplement those efforts with actual medical examinations, lest they find themselves dwelling in a state of false security.

As for my own approach, I believe that one comprehensive annual physical is more than sufficient.

...I hope you're still following this thread... and that you aren't off on vacation... I'm hoping my boss clears my schedule in the next few days so I can actually sit down and go through all the replies... among other things.

To get straight to the point—I feel terrible, and I honestly don't have the energy to write out a novel right now...

Self-exams... the ultimate Achilles' heel... left breast...
Doctor's visit... referral... mammogram...
The mammogram results came back saying the tissue is "too dense" to provide a 100% accurate reading...
(During that window—first month on oral contraceptives—it was a bit of a red flag)
..she called me in after my period for an ultrasound... findings: right breast has a 16 mm cyst, left breast... she isn't sure... small diameter... it feels hard, yet it moves (which mimics a cyst), but she can't say for certain... now she’s sending me to Memorial Sloan Kettering for further testing... relatively urgently, too...

darkviper5, you don't just guess where things are going; you actually know exactly how the pieces fall. You know which decisions are being made behind closed doors while you're just sitting there waiting for them to tell you something that is 100% definitive.
Anything at all.

During the exams (both the ultrasound and the mammogram), the doctor—considering my family history—suggested I test for genetic predisposition to breast cancer... looking for a specific genotype...
Have any of you (or anyone reading this) been sent for those types of tests? And if so, where?
As far as I know, the top center for tissue typing in the US would be somewhere like MD Anderson. Am I right about that?

Any advice? Any experiences to share?

Sorry slyraven82, I’m a little confused because I don't think I quite follow everything you're saying...
Are you currently just in the middle of doing research, like, checking out all the results right now?
So, yeah, just take it slow, okay?
They’ve identified a lump, but they can't really tell what it is or what kind of thing we're looking at yet?
Don't rush into anything until you feel like you're 100% sure about what's going on.
You should have the option to get a tissue biopsy—you know, where they use a needle to take a tiny sample from the lump itself.
Then there's also the possibility of getting an MRI (don't quote me on this, but if I remember my translations right, it's similar to a CT scan, except it uses magnetic resonance? Like, in German, it's called Magnetresonanztomographie).
Basically, they look at the tissue inside that big "tube" while you lie there; first, they inject some fluid into your vein that stays concentrated in the tumor area, and then they take images of the breast tissue layer by layer inside the machine.
It takes forever and it’s expensive as hell; here in Germany, the healthcare system usually only covers it in "special cases," like when the other tests don't give a clear enough picture.
An MRI is actually a super reliable way to check things out.
If they do end up diagnosing cancer—which I am praying with all my heart isn't the case—then, despite all the fear and shock, try to stay as level-headed as you can.
Maybe ask if there's a way in America to do tumor tissue testing to see how it reacts to different types of chemotherapy drugs?
In Germany, they actually have a specific type of test for that, and insurance covers it in the meantime; they test a piece of the tumor against various chemo drugs to figure out which one works best, and then that specific chemo is prescribed (if it's needed, depending on the results).
If I had known about that sooner, I definitely would have done it myself.
Also, maybe talk things over with your doctor about whether it's possible to just operate on the lump without doing a full mastectomy? (It's really important that the surgeon has a lot of experience and years under their belt for this, because they need to be able to tell the difference between diseased and healthy tissue so they can remove the whole lump "within healthy tissue.")
And you might want to ask if they use the sentinel node method: that's where they mark the first lymph node near the breast tissue using a radioactive substance injected into the vein and a CT scan.
With that technique, they "only" remove that one sentinel node and maybe a few nearby ones, rather than removing everything like they used to do (which is huge, because if they take everything out, there's a risk of getting lymphedema, where fluid builds up in your arm).
Gosh, I shouldn't write any more, I don't want to scare you!
But hey, if you want to chat about it, just let me know.
Oh, and regarding those gene tests, I probably can't help much since I'm not really an expert on that stuff.
What was it that made him bring that up to you in the first place?
Is there a history of cancer in your family?
Ah, wait, I just read that, sorry!
I know of some women who decided to have tissue removed from both breasts on their doctor's recommendation and got implants just because breast cancer runs in their families.
You know, as a preventative measure.
Stay strong.
Xoxo

slyraven82 said:[I'll make this quick—I’m feeling pretty lousy and don't have the energy for a long rant...

[/B]

Not much else to add—just 🙂 🙂 😘
Hang in there and listen to darkviper5🙂

darkviper5 said:don't back down until you're 100% certain

It ain't over till it's over.

Don't let them get to you. 😘 😘 🙂

I hope not....

Look, here’s how things stand.
It’s terrifying. Truly. There are moments when the fear just hits me—it blinds me.
But it’s only momentary, thank God. For now, I’m managing; I’m fighting to make those moments as brief as possible throughout the day.

Everything will settle once I go to the Mayo Clinic, get the sample taken, and wait for the results. Because regardless of what they find, it won't be tied to a million "what ifs" that multiply in a split second, followed by an endless chain of "then I'll..." Right now, based on nothing but a radiologist saying "I'm not sure," I am spiraling into uncertainty.

No, I won't back down. Not in any version of this story. I won't stop pushing for a definitive diagnosis, nor will I stop pursuing every possible test or treatment. And I certainly won't stop being who I am—a persistent one, living life with a massive appetite for it.

Damn it, I'm just scared right now.😢

Regarding the idea of preventative tissue removal... I don't know. I'm not really built for that kind of preventive approach. To me, prevention means assessing risk, educating yourself on how to minimize it, and staying on top of things with the most advanced diagnostic tools available.

I feel like you have to give your body a chance. You have to trust that your body won't just follow that same old path laid out by your ancestors.
Because, honestly, if you don't give the body that sense of faith—and if you don't support that through your own actions—you can't expect anything from it.

If things take a turn for the worse, I'll opt for the most intensive surgery without blinking an eye.

darkviper5, are the results after a needle biopsy actually definitive? I mean, if my report comes back clear, can I truly be CERTAIN everything is fine?
And how does a cyst—God, please let it just be a cyst—react to being poked? Does the biopsy trigger faster growth, or does it shift, or something else entirely?

Of course, I'll ask the doctors at the clinic everything. Hell, I'm even making a list of questions, like a student prepping for a final exam.🙂 Because when I walk into that room, I don't want the panic to make me forget. I'll ask them even the smallest, most trivial thing.
But still, I know there are women on this forum who have been through this exact battle, fought it, and are healthy now... so...

I'm usually such a seasoned, tough woman... and honestly, I don't recognize myself in this role of someone consumed by fear.

darkviper5, thank you so much for reaching out, for your time, and for being so thorough...
I’ve printed out your post and your advice so I know exactly what to demand and insist upon if the results aren't good. Honestly, I really needed this—to have someone who understands the situation, knows the terminology, and knows exactly which step comes next.
Thank you.

Carol Grant33, thank you for the hug...
I'm thinking about everything, and maybe you'll lend me a little strength if they take this little piece of mine away?🙂 You wouldn't even notice it was gone.🙂
(Damn, I'm cracking; look at all this nonsense I'm writing, it's totally disjointed.)

Sunchica, thanks.

It really is good to have you all.😍

Dear Dea,

I went through pretty much the same thing... my left breast was hit hardest by mastitis, and I had about three suspicious cysts there. On the right side, there were two more... honestly, they felt more like cysts than actual tissue. 😁

Can you believe they only did one biopsy? It wasn't even enough; they barely grabbed any tissue for the lab to actually analyze. 🙄

To make a long story short—the results came back 🙂

Anyway, I'm sending you a huge 🙂 and consider this little heads-up as my way of being 👍

I make sure to do this before every single specialist appointment.

Dea

I honestly don't have much of anything smart to add here...

but just hang in there 🙂
...
darkviper5, based on what you said, an MRI—or Magnetic Resonance Imaging—is basically used to spot all kinds of soft tissue issues

like if you’ve got a torn tendon or maybe some nerve impingement...

I think we should definitely have access to that kind of tech here in the States too, since I actually had a similar scan done back in the day when I was visiting Chicago about 20 years ago...

electricdriver78 said:Dea

I mean, I don't really have anything super profound to add here,

but hang in there, okay? 🙂

darkviper5, just so you know, based on what you said, Magnetic Resonance Imaging—or MRI—is basically used to spot all kinds of soft tissue anomalies.

Like, if you’ve got a torn tendon or maybe some pinched nerve or something like that.

I’m pretty sure we have access to that here in the States too, because I remember having a similar scan back in the day, maybe like 20 years ago, when I was over in Chicago.

Yeah, Margie, thanks for adding that bit.
It’s actually not just limited to soft tissue though, it can pick up all sorts of anomalies, including bone issues too.
And I’m fairly certain they have it here in America; it’s just more about whether insurance covers it or not, since around here they usually only bite if it's one of those "special" cases.😢

slyraven82, first off, let me just give you a hugeeeee 🙂 hug for being so incredibly brave and for radiating such positive vibes even during times as tough as this.

As for the biopsy part:
quote:
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slyraven82 says:
darkviper5, are the results from a puncture and tissue biopsy completely foolproof?
They are, provided they actually hit the right tissue.
I mean, if my results come back clear, am I actually CERTAIN that everything is fine?
I honestly can't give you a definitive answer on that because I'm definitely not a doctor.
And how does a tumor—God, I hope it's benign—react to the biopsy later on? Does it trigger faster growth, or does it move, or does something else entirely happen?

Sadly, there are rare cases where things looked totally safe at first, but then six months later, malignant cells showed up during a follow-up, but that’s really not the rule!
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I'm just glad I could help you out a little bit.🙂
Along with these words of support, I'm sending a whole bag of positive thoughts your way.
Hopefully, they'll stay with you through this difficult stretch.🙂
😘

I don't have much to add, but I’m sending you 😘

It's already obvious you've got grit—you're going to push through this regardless of how the results turn out. I know that cocktail of fear and uncertainty you're dealing with right now all too well, but trust me, this won't last forever.
Back in the day, darkviper5 told me: "Do your homework, keep reading..."—and I'm giving you that same advice. Getting informed will help you wrap your head around what's actually happening, and honestly, it'll make you feel more in control.
If I've learned anything, it's to be stubborn—maybe even a little too headstrong. I've decided that nothing is over until *I* say it's over 😁; I refuse to let some diagnosis dictate my life. It's a much easier way to live, if you ask me.

Keep me posted. Reach out whenever you need to vent, scream, laugh, or cry... just whatever you need to do. But whatever you do, keep moving forward—don't you dare slow down.
🙂

slyraven82 said:No—there isn't a single version of this where I back down. I won't stop pushing for a perfect diagnosis, nor will I quit on every possible test or treatment available. I refuse to give up on who I am—a persistent one, living life with a massive passion.

👍 👋 sound reasoning🙂

slyraven82 said:Carol Grant33, honey, thank you for the hug...
And I was wondering—if they end up taking this little bit of mine, would you mind lending me a little something? 🙂

Not lend—just give it as a gift.😁

Good luck.😘