The most important part of breast self-examination is becoming familiar with the normal findings of your own breasts. Breast size and consistency change with pregnancy and normal aging.
Most cancers appear as single, hard, painless lumps.
If you regularly examine your breasts, you can easily detect changes, which then can be evaluated by your physician. If you discover a lump, pucker, dimple, or any suspicious finding or change from your previous examination, see your physician. Breast cancer is usually curable if it is found and treated early enough. Unfortunately, if someone waits until obvious symptoms appear, the cancer may already be quite advanced. Then treatment becomes more difficult and less likely to be successful.