I do it everytime I'm in the shower...I thinks is better that way cause the soap makes it easier.

i've heard that it's best to just let your doctor do them at your yearly exam when you're young and have no family history of breast cancer. i think it has something to do with misinterpreting lumps as bad when they're really benign. of course, you know your body the best....so yeah.

how does the soap make it easier? i'm curious. plus, i never know what exactly i should be feeling for. anyone got any good suggestions?

Sometimes I do it more than once a month.

Well when you have you're hands soapy you can move them smoothly through your breast so you can feel if there's something strange I guess. You also should check them in the mirror to see if there is any change in shape, size or color.

Ohhhh okay

When I used to go to a particular health clinic for gynocological exams, the gynocologist would give me these free stickers to put on my calender. It was a pic of a pink rose and said something like "Remember your monthly self-exam." I moved and go to a different hospital now so I don't get those stickers anymore, but they were a great idea! All hospitals should offer those to women whenever we go in for our yearly.

My mom was recently diagnosed with breast cancer, as was my best friend's mom, so I've been doing a lot of research. I was shocked to find out how to actually do a real self exam. I thought I was doing pretty good because I feel myself up in the shower and see if there's anything weird. There's so much more to take into account, and yes, it is better with soapy fingers. You're also supposed to check both standing and laying down so that you can use your chest wall to press against. I think the Komen website has a formal video or write-up about how to perform a real self exam.

And I read somewhere that you're looking for what amounts to a pebble in a bag of grapes. I'm not sure how real that is, but it's what I go on.

Definitely once a month!!!