If you are afraid to get a breast exam or do one yourself, you are not alone. Most women avoid getting a breast exam at all costs. This is not a good idea. Every women should get breast exams every year or so, just to be on the safe side. Trust me, you will be much better off, if you were to catch breast cancer in its early stages, verus its later stages.

Never panic if you feel a lump, most women have some lumpy areas in their breasts but you shouldn't ignore it either. Make an appointment with your doctor and have it checked out, studies have shown that eight out of ten lumps that are removed, are benign which means it isn't cancerous.

It is very important that you become very familiar with your breasts, knowing every inch, so if there is ever a time that something changes, you will be able to quickly recognize it. Start your breast exam by looking at your breasts in the mirror. Look at the shape, size and color. Raise your arms and examine your breasts again - Make an appointment with your doctor if anything seems different with your breasts and or your health.

The next thing you do in your breast exam is to squeeze each of your nipples to see if there is any discharge. The discharge could look milky, yellow or even bloody. If there is a discharge, don't be alarmed, but also consult with a physician. Lie down and feel your breasts, use your right hand to inspect your left breast and then the left hand to feel the right breast. Use a firm but smooth touch during your breast self-exam and keep your fingers flat and together while doing the exam. Do this on the entire breast, from side to side, top to bottom and around the armpit and collarbone.

First, you will want to perform a breast exam lying down, then you will want to repeat it sitting up. Follow all the steps explained above, except that this time you are sitting or standing. Don't rush, make sure you work slowly and carefully to ensure you did a proper check. A mammogram can miss 10% of breast cancer so if you feel a lump that didn't show up on your mammogram, don't just ignore it. Tell your doctor and show him where you felt it so a proper exam can be done. It might seem terrifying to wait while tests are done, but it's important and needs to be done, it's always better to know that being in the dark about something.