Understanding The Importance Of Regular Breast Self-Exams; Experts Share Tips On How To Perform Them

It is absolutely pivotal for women to constantly self-examine their breasts to check for lumps or any sort of abnormalities in the breasts. Therefore, performing regular breast self-examinations, ideally starting within the first six days of the menstrual cycle, is essential to identify lumps, which can often be around two to three centimetres in size, before they become symptomatic. Dr. Tushar Patil, Senior Consultant – Medical Oncologist, Sahyadri Super Speciality Hospital, Deccan Gymkhana, Pune, says, “The ideal frequency for self-examination is during the first week of one’s menstrual cycle when breast tenderness is usually less pronounced. There are multiple instructional videos available to guide women in performing this examination correctly.” He further added, “A breast examination should begin in front of a mirror. Dr. Sajjan Rajpurohit, Senior Director, Cancer Care / Oncology, Max Super Speciality Hospital, Shalimar Bagh, shared a few tips on how to perform self-breast examinations perfectly, he pointed out, “Perform self-exam at the same time each month, ideally a few days after your menstrual period.