Pūtahi Hauora
Defence Health HubHow do I check my breasts?
How do I check my breasts?
00:00
hi I'm Jackie breast cancer is the most
00:03
common cancer for women I encourage you
00:06
to check your breasts regularly and
00:08
we're going to show you how most of us
00:10
are busy working looking after our
00:12
families just living life and too often
00:15
we put ourselves at the bottom of the
00:17
priority list but it's important for
00:20
every woman to give themselves and their
00:22
breasts a little TLC because around half
00:25
of all breast cancers are found by women
00:27
who felt or saw a change in their
00:29
breasts and showed their doctor that's
00:32
why the New Zealand Breast Cancer
00:33
Foundation wants you to get to know your
00:35
normal by checking your breasts and it's
00:38
so easy you don't have to be an expert
00:40
I'm not and all women will do it
00:43
differently which is totally fine in
00:45
fact it's as easy as TLC the T stands
00:50
for touch start by getting to know how
00:53
your breasts feel by touching them so
00:55
that the next time you check you're more
00:57
likely to notice any changes you can do
00:59
this in the shower line down on your
01:01
beard or while getting dressed whatever
01:03
works for you feel for any lumps or
01:06
thickening of the breast tissue check
01:08
your upper chest and open to your
01:10
armpits as well it's important to cover
01:12
your whole chest area press quite firmly
01:14
but just do what feels comfortable the L
01:17
stands for look stand in front of a
01:20
mirror and look to see if there is
01:22
anything different about the size and
01:23
shape has the outline of your breasts
01:26
changed
01:27
are there any dimples dense or puckering
01:30
is there any redness or swelling or does
01:34
the skin look a bit like orange peel
01:36
don't forget to look at your nipples are
01:39
they newly inverted have you noticed any
01:41
unusual discharge or skin change and
01:44
what if you do notice anything unusual
01:47
or different about your breasts then C
01:50
is for check most breast changes aren't
01:54
cancerous but for your own peace of mind
01:56
get checked out by your doctor pronto
01:58
they'll examine your breasts and sort
02:00
out some tests if you need them for many
02:03
of us those monthly hormonal changes can
02:05
make things a little bit tender and
02:07
that's normal as well but if breast pain
02:09
persists again check with your doctor
02:12
no one knows your breasts better than
02:15
you
02:16
so get into the habit of checking for
02:17
changes every month whatever your age
02:20
start now and when you reach your 40s
02:23
consider having regular mammograms they
02:25
can find tiny changes well before a lump
02:28
can be felt once you turn 45 you can
02:31
enroll in the national screening program
02:33
and have free mammograms every two years
02:35
until you're 69 knowing your breasts is
02:39
as easy as touch look check so start
02:43
checking because no one deserves more
02:45
TLC than you
hi I'm Jackie breast cancer is the most
00:03
common cancer for women I encourage you
00:06
to check your breasts regularly and
00:08
we're going to show you how most of us
00:10
are busy working looking after our
00:12
families just living life and too often
00:15
we put ourselves at the bottom of the
00:17
priority list but it's important for
00:20
every woman to give themselves and their
00:22
breasts a little TLC because around half
00:25
of all breast cancers are found by women
00:27
who felt or saw a change in their
00:29
breasts and showed their doctor that's
00:32
why the New Zealand Breast Cancer
00:33
Foundation wants you to get to know your
00:35
normal by checking your breasts and it's
00:38
so easy you don't have to be an expert
00:40
I'm not and all women will do it
00:43
differently which is totally fine in
00:45
fact it's as easy as TLC the T stands
00:50
for touch start by getting to know how
00:53
your breasts feel by touching them so
00:55
that the next time you check you're more
00:57
likely to notice any changes you can do
00:59
this in the shower line down on your
01:01
beard or while getting dressed whatever
01:03
works for you feel for any lumps or
01:06
thickening of the breast tissue check
01:08
your upper chest and open to your
01:10
armpits as well it's important to cover
01:12
your whole chest area press quite firmly
01:14
but just do what feels comfortable the L
01:17
stands for look stand in front of a
01:20
mirror and look to see if there is
01:22
anything different about the size and
01:23
shape has the outline of your breasts
01:26
changed
01:27
are there any dimples dense or puckering
01:30
is there any redness or swelling or does
01:34
the skin look a bit like orange peel
01:36
don't forget to look at your nipples are
01:39
they newly inverted have you noticed any
01:41
unusual discharge or skin change and
01:44
what if you do notice anything unusual
01:47
or different about your breasts then C
01:50
is for check most breast changes aren't
01:54
cancerous but for your own peace of mind
01:56
get checked out by your doctor pronto
01:58
they'll examine your breasts and sort
02:00
out some tests if you need them for many
02:03
of us those monthly hormonal changes can
02:05
make things a little bit tender and
02:07
that's normal as well but if breast pain
02:09
persists again check with your doctor
02:12
no one knows your breasts better than
02:15
you
02:16
so get into the habit of checking for
02:17
changes every month whatever your age
02:20
start now and when you reach your 40s
02:23
consider having regular mammograms they
02:25
can find tiny changes well before a lump
02:28
can be felt once you turn 45 you can
02:31
enroll in the national screening program
02:33
and have free mammograms every two years
02:35
until you're 69 knowing your breasts is
02:39
as easy as touch look check so start
02:43
checking because no one deserves more
02:45
TLC than you