To not be at all confident about checking my breasts?

[Stressingismyhobby]

Following the awful news about Sarah Harding, I know I should check my breasts more but the thing is I'm just not confident I would notice any changes.

I have lumps and bumps all over my boobs - a doctor even mentioned once that they're particularly lumpy - so I can feel all sorts of lumps everywhere. I don't think I'd notice anything new. It really worries me as I know it's so important to check them - anybody else have this problem?

Breasts generally are a bit lumpy and bumpy when you feel them, they're not perfectly smooth. The main thing is to get familiar with your breasts so that you know which lumps and bumps are familiar and then you will be able to tell when there is a new one or a change in one. It's not just lumps either, you should also be aware of changes in shape or texture, changes to the skin, unusual pain or sensation, changes to your nipples or nipple discharge, etc.

It freaks me out too OP. I give them a cursory swipe, but the thought of finding a lump scares me.

OP I'm the same, I've watched videos and read the 'instructions' on cancer charity sites. But I still dont know if I'm doing it right, I have lumpy breasts and cant work out if it's new or been there the whole time. It really scares me, I went to the GP with a lump once, she said it was normal, so I felt like an idiot for wasting their time - how could she tell straight away it wasnt anything to be worried about? I think my issue is, is that I have very big breasts (34K) which I think makes it harder to check but fuck knows!

It’s not necessarily about finding every lump and bump, it’s about noticing something new so if you casually do it everytime you have a shower or something you will get a good gut feeling for when something is off

Get to know your breasts so you can tell anything different. Even at a mammogram it missed a lump which luckily was benign which was only discovered because of a scan to check the extent of calcification they knew was there. Check your boobs every shower, learn how they feel at different times of the month, be aware of any changes but don't be scared to have anything investigated.

Most of the time it is nothing to worry about. But always, always, always get anything unusual checked out.

I felt exactly like you and actually went to a GP about this (a friend had been diagnosed and I knew I needed to keep on top of it but wasn't confident I was doing it right). The GP was great and said the techniques is less important than just the idea of doing it regularly. As others have said, breasts do naturally have some lumps and its more about noticing if anything has changed.

Might be worth doing that if you have a good GP?

Yes, I suppose I just need to get used to how they feel - I'm just worried I wouldn't notice anything new. Wish I could just have a yearly mammogram so a pro could check them properly for me!!

@Stressingismyhobby
I am exactly the same. I have the added upset of having promised DM I would check regularly before she died (of pre-menopausal BC). I can barely bring myself to do it. I have been checked out by GPs and even a consultant when I thought something was off. But I am petrified every time and often cry when I try and every time I feel a bump (which is every time I check).

I don't have an answer. The news about Sarah Harding has scared me even more.

If I press deep and near my arm pits I feel all sorts of bumps, it’s scary but I’ve never got them checked. I’ve been googling trying to work out how to check them
Properly as if you haven’t checked them
Previously how do you know if the bump is new?

I had a lump once and got it checked out and the consultant said to me I have particularly “glandular” breasts. I’m not even sure what that means but I think he meant very lumpy. I am an H cup and it’s near impossible for me to feel deep enough in the breast to check properly and I have so many lumps it’s very anxiety inducing! I check myself now everyday in the shower and I feel at least I know what’s normal for me. I hope I’d recognise something weird. Fingers crossed.

I’ve just seen on Instagram a young mum of 29 has secondary breast cancer. Please please please get in the habit of checking them. Once you get in the habit you’ll notice (god forbid) any changes.
I wish there was some sort of yearly screening also.