While each country has it’s own guidelines on when to check for breast cancer during your cycle, most experts now advise that you familiarise yourself with your breasts through several stages of the cycle.

Your breasts change throughout their cycle, however they change with a regularity that is consistant. You should learn to know how your breasts feel and look during your cycle for early detection of breast cancer.

If you have a history of breast cancer in the family you might want to consider tools such as the ‘Breastlight’, which shines a harmless red light through the breast tissue.  This can give early detection of lumps within the breast tissue, but it is important to remember  that not all breast cancer comes in the form of lumps.

When you are checking for changes in your breast tissue, you are looking for changes that do not return to normal during the course of your cycle.

There are several changes which you should look out for,

• Size – Most women have one breast larger than the other.
• Position – If one breast becomes lower than the other.
• Nipples – nipple Rash, Sudden Inverted Nipple, Discharge, or any change in position or shape.
• Persistant Pain, that is not linked to your period.
• Increased lumpiness or thickening which feels different to normal, and does not go away during the cycle.
• Skin changes around the breast area.

These changes do not neccessarily mean breast cancer, they are however some of the more common signs of breast cancer.

If you detect preliminary signs of breast cancer such as these, then it is essential that you contact your nearest medical practitioner as soon as possible to have more detailed checks made.

When you have had a specialist check made, the chances are you will not have breast cancer. Around 90% of women who go for a breast cancer check do not infact have breast cancer. Despite this, medical professionals stress that if you have any of the above signs you must still have any changes checked to be on the safe side.  Early detection of breast cancer can greatly increase your chances of survival.