The Health of Your Breast

Please read my disclaimer before proceeding!

A good breast self-exam covers every portion of both breasts.  Women should thoroughly scan themselves from the collarbone to under the breasts. 

Spiral pattern:  Begin at the nipple; spiral out using small circles. 

Clock Circles pattern:  Envision a clock with the nipple at the center.  Begin at noon, high on your chest.  Using at least six small overlapping circles, move to 3 o’clock (in your armpit), then 6 o’clock (under your breast), then 9 o’clock (the middle of your chest).  After completing one clock, do smaller ones inside it, until there is one last clock around the nipple. 

Row pattern:  Envision even rows like knit fabric, an orchard, or rows and rows of braids or beads.  Make small circles along these rows, going up and down, or back and forth. 

Orange Segment pattern:  Make small circles along 12 or more lines (as many as need to cover the breast completely) which radiate out from the nipple.