How to Check Yourself for Male Breast Cancer Male Breast Self-Exam
1. Check each breast one at a time.
2. Use your right hand fingers to check
your left breast, and your left hand
fingers to check your right breast.
3. With your fingers flat against the
breast press firmly in small, clockwise circles.
4. Start at the outermost top edge of your breast
and spiral towards the nipple.
5. Feel for hard lumps or bumps in your breast.
6. Be certain to cover all parts of your breast.
7. Gently squeeze both nipples and look for any discharge.
8. Look carefully for changes in the size, shape,
and contour of each breast, e.g., puckering,
dimpling, or changes in skin texture.
When is the best time to perform the MBSE?
• During or right after a warm shower or bath
• Warm, soapy water relaxes and smoothes the skin,
making the MBSE easier to perform
• Remember to do the MBSE once a month
What are the symptoms?
A hard, painless lump in the breast tissue (most common sign)
Pain in the breast
Nipple retraction (turning inward)
Redness or scaling of the nipple or breast skin
Discharge from the nipple
However, remember that most breast lumps in men are due to gynecomastia and not cancer.
SYMPTOMS DIAGNOSIS SELF-CARE
1. Are you between the ages of 10 and 25 and have swelling under the nipple? Hormone changes of adolescence may bring about GYNECOMASTIA, benign swelling of the male breast. Gynecomastia is usually benign and lasts for a few months. See your doctor if you’re concerned or if the mass keeps growing.
2. Is the nipple red, sore, cracked or blistered? Do you run or wear loose gym clothing? You may have RUNNER’S NIPPLE, an irritation of the skin caused by clothes that chafe. Use an antibiotic ointment and an adhesive bandage strip when you run. Petroleum jelly may work just as well. If a growth occurs, have it checked by your doctor.
3. Are you taking any hormones or any new medicines and have a painless swelling under and/or around the nipple? Your breast swelling, or GYNECOMASTIA, may be due to a MEDICINE or a HORMONE. Discuss this with your doctor.
4. Do you have a hard, painless lump under your nipple? This could represent something serious, like Cancer. Promptly make an appointment with your doctor.
For more information, please consult your doctor. If you think the problem is serious, call right away.