Stand in front of a mirror with adequate lighting and let your arms hang relaxed at your sides. Look at your breasts and note any changes.

Helpful questions may include:
- Has the size / shape of one breast changed noticeably?
- Are both breasts at approximately the same height as before?
- Has the color of the nipple changed?

Important note: It is completely normal if the breasts do not look identical. For example, one breast is often slightly larger than the other.

Raise your arms and move them slowly up and down. Look in the mirror to see how your breasts and nipples move.

Helpful questions may include:
- Do the breasts move evenly up and down?
- Are both nipples at the same height?
- Are there any changes in the shape of the breast, such as folds, indentations, thickening or protrusions of the skin, when you raise or lower your arms?

Step 3A: Circular palpation of the breast while standing
Examine the breast in increasingly smaller circles from the outside inwards towards the nipple.

Step 3B: Linear palpation of the breast while standing
In the next step, palpate the breast in lines from top to bottom and from outside to inside.

Step 3C: Radiating palpation of the breast while standing
Finally, palpate your breast in a radiating pattern towards the nipples.

Gently squeeze each nipple between your thumb and index finger. If any colored discharge or fluid comes out, you should consult your gynecologist immediately.

Lie on your back and repeat the breast palpation in this position. Pay particular attention to the lower areas of the breast.

At the end of the examination, you should also palpate your armpits, as there are lymph nodes there. To do this, stretch one arm upwards and apply gentle, gliding pressure against the chest wall with your fingers. Pay attention to whether you can feel hardened lumps.

It is recommended that women over 30 undergo a breast cancer screening once a year. This can take place in your usual gynecological practice. If breast cancer runs in your family, ask your doctor for individual advice on how often you should be examined. Women between the ages of 50 and 69 are recommended to undergo a mammography screening in addition to the annual palpation examination.

As with many other types of cancer, the exact cause of breast cancer often remains unclear. However, there are some risk factors that can increase the risk of breast cancer. Some of these factors are modifiable, while others are not. However, scientists now believe that a healthy lifestyle can prevent around 25 percent of new cases of breast cancer.

The most important recommendations are:

- Maintain a healthy body weight. The body mass index (BMI) should be within the normal range.

- Regular exercise in everyday life is important.

- Don't smoke.

- Reduce alcohol consumption. For healthy women, the limit per day is about 2.5 dl of beer or 1.23 dl of wine.

- Women with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of breast cancer. The risk can often be reduced through weight management and exercise. If you already have diabetes, good blood sugar control can further reduce the risk