FEEL YOURSELF (literally)

Your hands-on guide to checking your breasts at home

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Atitillating talk that we're arguably not having enough is how – and how often – we should be checking our breasts.

It's a topic that carries uncomfortable weight, especially when we consider the alarming statistics.

According to a 2024 report from the Australian Government Institute of Health and Welfare, roughly 58 Australian women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day. Of those diagnosed, approximately 3300 die each year from the disease.

And while breast self-checks might feel like uncharted territory – particularly for those under 40 who generally aren't eligible for free two-yearly screening mammograms – self-examinations are a vital tool for early detection, prognosis and treatment.

Dr Katrina Tiller, chair of breast medicine at the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, shares how to perform a breast check at home and any red flags to look out for.

BOOB BASICS

No two boobs are the same, or in fact, feel the same. What matters most is understanding what's normal for you.

"A woman might come in with very lumpy breasts, but they may feel the same for her," Tiller says.