1st STEP: IN THE BATHROOM In the shower, with one arm raised above the head, systematically feel all parts of the breast with circular motions of fingers. Do not use the very tips of the fingers, but their pads, and when feeling pay particular attention to existence of any thickening, papule, tumor or similar. Use the right hand to examine the left breast, and the left hand for the right breast.
	2nd STEP: IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR Place your arms on your hips and, pressing them firmly, try to strain the pectoral muscles on which the breasts rest, and simultaneously in the mirror look for asymmetric changes in the breasts in terms of a protrusion, a dent, retraction of the skin or a nipple. A slight asymmetry in the size of the breasts is not significant as it is present with the largest number of women.
	3rd STEP: IN FRONT OF THE MIRROR Slowly raising the arms above the head, look for the above mentioned changes in the breasts, as the raising of arms emphasizes changes in the skin and nipples, which hence become more easily visible.
	4th STEP: LYING POSITION In order to best examine the right breast, lie down and place a pillow under the right shoulder-blade and simultaneously lift the right arm above the head. This enables the breast to spread over the largest area of the rib cage, and therefore is the thinnest and easiest for examining. Repeat the examination also on the other side.
	5th STEP: LYING POSITION When feeling the right breast, use finger tips of the left hand, with circular motions - best to be clockwise - starting from the periphery of the breast towards the nipple. Pay attention to dents and papules. Tissue thickenings on the base of a breast in the form of a rim is a normal phenomenon. Repeat the examination of the left breast with you right hand.
	6th STEP: LYING POSITION At the end of the exam gently press nipples of both the breasts, for the purpose of any discovery of a secretion or sanies. In case you have identified any of the mentioned indications by the examination, consult your physician.

Why is it important to examine your breasts?
It is certain that one out of 10 women will probably fall ill with breast cancer. Accordingly, using a regular self-exam every month you are in the position to discover any abnormality and a tumor in a breast at the earliest stage. Do not forget that the possibility of healing early-detected breast carcinoma is above 85%.
Why should you examine your breasts every month?
A breast self-exam is a very simple procedure which requires only a mirror and 10 minutes' time, and can be extremely useful, and hence it is best to repeat it regularly on the seventh day from the beginning of every menstrual period, i.e. on the first day of every month with women in menopause or without the womb.
Is it better to go to the doctor for an examination?
Certainly, but if you want to perform the exams regularly, every month, that would take too much time for both the doctor and you, but if you learn how to perform the exam every month, you will learn very quickly how to notice every change, and then you should go to your doctor-oncologist.
What if I feel a node in a breast?
The finding of a node in a breast does not mean necessarily that you have a breast cancer, because there are numerous benign ailments of breasts in the form of a node in a breast. However, it is necessary for you to immediately go to the doctor oncologist, who will establish what the question is about, and by no means postpone the visit to the doctor because you are afraid of what she/he will tell you. If you were performing your exams regularly, the change has been detected early with good chances for healing, and therefore you should not waste your time!
How can I conclude whether the question is about a benign or a malignant tumor?
You cannot do it by yourself, and for that reason you must leave it to your doctor oncologist, who will perform also an X-radiation of breasts (mammography) after an examination, in order to make a conclusion on the nature of the discovered tumor, and she/he will probably perform a needle biopsy (obtaining a sample of cells for examination, or she/he will advise on a biopsy - surgical elimination of a tumor for the purpose of microscopic examination), or will begin with a treatment immediately, if necessary.
What if cancer is suspected?
It is necessary to begin treating the breast cancer immediately. Since the contemporary breast cancer therapy depends on the size and location of the tumor, the age, and the spread status of the disease, different forms of combined treatments are applied (operation, radiotherapy, cytostatic treatment, hormonal therapy, etc.). It is necessary for you to contact the institution dealing with these issues.

IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER
A breast self-exam consists of 6 phases, all of which can be performed in 10 minutes.
A breast self-exam is intended for all women, regardless of the age!
Only a full-scope breast self-exam is successful in the preventive protection from malignant breast diseases.
BTake care of your breasts! Do the breast self-exam carefully and in a disciplined manner! Do the breast self-exam at least once per month!

We recommend that the women from the below stated categories go to regular examinations and a routine mammography or a sonography every 2-3 years.

Women above the age of 50
Women above the age of 40, whose mothers or sisters had breast cancer
Barren women or women with the first pregnancy after the age of 30
Women who have already had cancer on one breast
Overweight women

In case during a self-exam of your breasts lasting for 10 minutes on a monthly basis you should discover anything from the below listed, immediately address a doctor dealing with breast diseases, in the best case the Oncology Institute of Vojvodina. The most important is to notice a change between one monthly exam and the following one, and to immediately contact a doctor.

Check the nipples, searching for:
cysts, eczemas
secretion, bloody secretion
change in the shape of a nipple (retraction, levelling, inversion)
change in the location of a nipple

Check the shape of the breast, such as:
change in the size
change in the contours of the breast
appearance of a protrusion, levelling or retraction (include also the armpit)

Check the surfaces of the breast, as follows:
wrinkling, appearance similar to orange skin
retraction or protrusionbr> enlarged or darkened nipples
thickening or occurrence of a tumor
ulcerations or wounds