When checking out your breasts (only in the way that is comfortable to you, here's what you should keep an eye for:

?A new lump or hard knot found in your breast or armpit

?Dimpling, puckering or indention in your breast or nipple

?Change in the size, shape or symmetry of your breast

?Swelling or thickening of the breast

?Redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin

?Nipple discharge, especially any that is bloody, clear and sticky, dark or occurs without squeezing your nipple

?Changes in your nipple such as tenderness, pain, turning or drawing inward, or pointing in a new direction

?Any suspicious changes in your breasts

Breast examination ? this is essential for early breast cancer detection. Here is the proper way of checking your breasts:

?First, look closely at your breasts. Stand in front of a mirror with your hands on the side.

?Facing forward, look for dimpling, puckering and any changes in size or shape.

?See if your nipples are inverted.

?Check your breasts with your arms in two other positions ? hands raised overhead and hand on hips.

There are 3 types of breast-exam patterns ? the clock pattern, sweeping pattern and the wedge pattern.

It is recommended to start breast examinations when women reach the age 20. It is also advisable to have their breast exam by a health professional every 3 years. Always remember that the best time to perform you breast exam is 1 week after the start of your monthly period.

But even if you regularly check your breasts doesn't mean you are safe from breast cancer. In fact it doesn't reduce the number of deaths caused by breast cancer. However, this can help every woman to detect the early stages of breast cancer and help them avoid it as soon as possible before it is too late. Self and clinical breast exams as well as mammography will help you increase your chances of detecting and finding breast cancer at an early and treatable stage.

Learn more about Breast Cancer by visiting www.mercola.com