Breasts are made up of fatty, fibrous and glandular tissue contained within the front of the chest wall.

 

 

Also known as mammary glands, breasts begin to form while the unborn baby is still growing in the mothers uterus. This is why both men and women have nipples and breasts. The difference is that mens breasts do not have the tissue called lobes that produce milk.

 

At every age, you can help keep your breasts healthy by practicing good breast self-care. Here is what you need to know:

 

 

Even though you look at and touch your breasts every day, doing a monthly breast self-exam will help you to be familiar with the look and feel of your breasts so it is easier to notice problems. The National Breast Cancer Foundation explains these ways to do a breast self-exam:

 

With the pads/flats of your three middle fingers, check the entire breast and armpit area, pressing down with light, medium and firm pressure. Check both breasts each month, feeling for any lump, thickening, hardened knot or any other breast changes.

 

 

Look at your breasts with your arms at your sides and then raise your arms high over your head. Look for any changes in the shape and skin, any swelling, or changes in the nipples. Then rest your palms on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest muscles. Check for any changes, particularly on one side.

 

 

When lying down, the breast tissue spreads out evenly along the chest wall. Place a pillow under your right shoulder and your right arm behind your head. Using your left hand, move your fingers around your right breast gently covering the entire breast area and armpit. Then do the same with your right hand on the left breast.

 

 

Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, women can now get a yearly "well woman" visit that is covered by insurance, which includes a clinical breast exam (CBE). As part of this exam, a trained health provider will carefully feel your breasts, underarm and the area just below the breastbone for any changes, such as a lump. If a CBE is not offered at your check-up, ask your provider about the exam.

 

 

Most major medical organizations recommend that women should have an annual screening mammogram starting at age 40, and that women at higher risk should speak with their health care providers about additional screening tests. The purpose of this screening is to find breast cancer at its earliest, most treatable stage.

 

 

Skin care for the breasts is just as important as skin care for your face and other areas. Some of the most sensitive skin on the body is on and around the breasts. Breast health organizations recommend daily use of a rich moisturizer on breast skin, applying sun block with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher to any areas exposed to the sun, and using moisturizing soaps, cleansing creams or bath or shower gels with added moisturizers instead of drying soaps.

 

 

The American Cancer Society issued guidelines on nutrition and physical activity to help prevent cancer that also apply to keeping breasts healthy. These recommendations include:

 

Getting regular physical activity and limiting the amount of high-calorie foods and beverages to help maintain a healthy weight

 

 

If breasts are not properly supported, connective tissue in the breast called ligaments will overstretch and sag. Choosing the appropriate bra can help reduce overstretching and sagging.

 

Especially for women with larger breasts, womens health specialists recommend a bra that shapes the breasts, keeps them pressed against the chest wall and has cups that are positioned properly. It is also important to remember that your bra size can change from year to year so measuring before you go to the store or order online is important to select a bra with the right fit. You should be able to comfortably fasten a bra on the second or third hook; otherwise the bra is too small.

 

It is normal to have concerns about how your breasts look and feel and to worry when you discover a problem, like a breast lump. Read on to get the evidence-based facts about common breast concerns among women so you will know what is normal and when to consult your health care provider.

 

 

A lot of women are uncomfortable having one breast that is a different size or shape than the other but the condition, called asymmetry, is very common. According to a 2018 study, about 50 percent of women have uneven breasts. The study, which compared the left and right breasts of 304 women, found more asymmetry in women with larger breasts and differences in the size and position of the nipple and areola in 50 percent to 60 percent of the women. Breast asymmetry is usually of no medical concern. However, if there are sudden changes in breast size, this could be a sign of cancer and should be checked by a health care provider.

 

 

It is easy to panic when you find a lump in your breast, but according to the American Cancer Society, most lumps are noncancerous (benign) breast conditions and most women have them. In fact, 80 percent to 85 percent of breast lumps are harmless, especially in women under age 40. Varying in size from smaller than a pea to several inches across, benign breast lumps can be solid, not moveable and feel like a dried bean or can be a moveable lump that is soft and fluid-filled, rolling between your fingers like a grape.

 

Most harmless breast lumps are directly related to the menstrual cycle, changes in hormones and the fluid buildup that comes with the monthly period, but they can also be related to plugged milk ducts and breast injuries. If you feel a lump, be sure to inform your health care provider to determine if testing is needed.

 

 

Half of American women between the ages of 20 and 50 have fibrocystic breasts, a common noncancerous condition that can cause breast pain, breast cysts and lumps in the breast that suddenly appear and go away. Fibrocystic breast changes are believed to be caused by rising and falling levels of hormones, especially estrogen, during the menstrual cycle. The changes are made worse by caffeine, which some studies suggest may contribute to fibrocystic breasts.

 

Most of the time, no treatment is needed once your health care provider has determined these breast changes are not due to cancer. However, if the lumps are very painful and a biopsy shows no sign of cancer, your health care provider may be able to draw out the cyst through the needle during the biopsy, although the cyst may come back.