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Understanding your breasts
The breasts are actually glands that prepare, store and dispense milk.
Each breast is divided into lobules, made up of a tight network of glands, bound together by elastic (connective) tissue that empties into ducts lined by muscle cells. Each area of the breast and each cell type respond differently to hormone changes every month. Some areas soften while other areas become more firm. Knowing this helps to explain why you may feel differences in contour and consistency.
Get to know your breasts
Each month, examine your breasts and develop a familiarity with the usual appearance and feel of your breasts. Since the breast tissue changes with monthly hormone fluctuations, you will notice changes come and go. Most breasts have some areas of "lumpiness" that are perfectly normal. If you have such an area in one breast, check the surrounding area, then the opposite breast. At the same time each month, feel for areas that are different than the surrounding breast tissue and ask yourself:
- How large is this lumpy area?
- Is there just one or more than one lump?
- Did I have this last month?
- Is there a similar lumpiness on the other breast in the same place?
In addition to lumpiness, look for the following:
- Dimpling or puckering of the skin anywhere on the breast.
- Change in skin color or texture or the presence of a rash.
- Bloody or clear fluid leaking from the nipple.
- A visible lump.
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External Sources
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Dollinger M, Rosenbaum, EH, Tempero M, et al. Everyone's Guide to Cancer Therapy, Fourth Edition, Kansas City, Missouri: Andrews McMeel Publishing, 2002.
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The National Women's Health Information Center "Breast Self-Exam"
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National Cancer Institute
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This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
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