How do I check my breasts?

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hi I'm Jackie breast cancer is the most
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common cancer for women I encourage you
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to check your breasts regularly and
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we're going to show you how most of us
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are busy working looking after our
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families just living life and too often
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we put ourselves at the bottom of the
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priority list but it's important for
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every woman to give themselves and their
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breasts a little TLC because around half
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of all breast cancers are found by women
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who felt or saw a change in their
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breasts and showed their doctor that's
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why the New Zealand Breast Cancer
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Foundation wants you to get to know your
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normal by checking your breasts and it's
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so easy you don't have to be an expert
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I'm not and all women will do it
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differently which is totally fine in
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fact it's as easy as TLC the T stands
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for touch start by getting to know how
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your breasts feel by touching them so
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that the next time you check you're more
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likely to notice any changes you can do
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this in the shower line down on your
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beard or while getting dressed whatever
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works for you feel for any lumps or
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thickening of the breast tissue check
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your upper chest and open to your
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armpits as well it's important to cover
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your whole chest area press quite firmly
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but just do what feels comfortable the L
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stands for look stand in front of a
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mirror and look to see if there is
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anything different about the size and
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shape has the outline of your breasts
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changed
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are there any dimples dense or puckering
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is there any redness or swelling or does
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the skin look a bit like orange peel
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don't forget to look at your nipples are
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they newly inverted have you noticed any
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unusual discharge or skin change and
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what if you do notice anything unusual
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or different about your breasts then C
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is for check most breast changes aren't
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cancerous but for your own peace of mind
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get checked out by your doctor pronto
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they'll examine your breasts and sort
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out some tests if you need them for many
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of us those monthly hormonal changes can
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make things a little bit tender and
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that's normal as well but if breast pain
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persists again check with your doctor
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no one knows your breasts better than
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you
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so get into the habit of checking for
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changes every month whatever your age
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start now and when you reach your 40s
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consider having regular mammograms they
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can find tiny changes well before a lump
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can be felt once you turn 45 you can
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enroll in the national screening program
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and have free mammograms every two years
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until you're 69 knowing your breasts is
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as easy as touch look check so start
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checking because no one deserves more
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TLC than you