Breast Exam

The other day while I was checking my breasts for lumps, I think I found one near my left nipple about the size of a pencil eraser. I know that there are some naturally occuring bumps in that area but i didnt feel it on the other breast. Both my mother and my grandmother have a history of breast cancer.

Now I am TERRIFIED of the hospitol and drs. Just thinking about going and having some man or woman squeeze and look at my boobs makes my gut shrivel. What can I expect from an exam?

It really is OK. He or she will be very respectful of you and, if you tell them that you are nervous, they should explain everything they are going to do.

For my breast exams I am wearing a gown on until the time comes for my doctor to examine my breasts. He just asks me to lower my gown and he looks while I am sitting on the bed. Then he asks me to push my hands against my hips and he looks again. Then he asks me to put my hands over my head and he looks again.

After this I lie down on my back and put my arms behind my head and he gently feels each breast, one side at a time. He sorta presses down and rubs in a little circle, then moves his hand and does it again. This also includes feeling up into my arm pit. When he's done, he sorta feels my nipple, too. Then he switches to the other side. After that, I pull my gown back up, and the breast exam is done. It's really not that bad at all.

Thanks to everyone for the well wishes. Everything went OK. Apparently one of the side effects of my birth control is minor lumps in the breast. My gyn said that it is perfectly normal and that it most likely is nothing to worry about. She's gonna keep her eye on it for the next few years.