How do I check naturally dense, lumpy breasts?

[toomuchhappyland]

Just that really. I have small breasts with prominent breast tissue that always feels lumpy. I can always feel distinct round lumps of breast tissue, like little grapes (not that big, but that's how they feel). I've been to the gp a few times and always been told they're fine. One gp did refer me to the breast clinic - the consultant wasn't concerned at all, did an ultrasound, all fine. But every month I check my breasts and feel I find a new lump I've not noticed before and I panic. I'm 35, no family history so I know my risk is low, but how do I stop worrying? One thing I think is I press too hard - I've noticed doctors use a lighter pressure than I do, and when I use light pressure I can't feel anything. But then I can't resist feeling with my fingertips and obsessing over the lumpy tissue. I suppose I'm worried if I don't press hard I'll miss changes in the tissue but I know I'm probably doing it wrong. Is a lump really obviously different? I only asked my GP to check a couple of months ago and I'm already worrying again, I can't keep asking for reassurance like this

I feel your stress - I've got a particularly lumpy left breast (but strangely enough, the right side is pretty'normal') so I find checking tricky too. I've been to the breast clinic twice in the space of 18months over lumps in my left breast. I really noticed the 2nd time how the consultants checked my breast - NO fingertips, but palms of fingers (if that makes sense?). The lumps I found were only palpable if I pressed deep into the breast tissue with my finger tips. I was told this was distorting my breast tissue & making me feel lumps that didn't really exist.
I think my left breast has basically been knackered from breast feeding - it was my 'favourite' side for feeding and an ultrasound showed the tissue is breaking apart therefore feeling lumpy in areas.
Breast cancer care does some great leaflets on breast self exams on their website.