Why do the Breast Self-Exam?

There are many good reasons for doing a breast self-exam each month. One reason is that it is easy and the more you do it, the better you will get at it. When you get to know how your breasts normally feel, you will quickly be able to feel any change -- early detection is a key to successful treatment.  A woman can do breast self-exam monthly to become familiar with the appearance and feel of her breasts so that she is aware of any change.

Women age 40 and older need a clinical breast exam (not all breast cancers are found by mammography) by a medical provider and a mammogram each year.

Remember: A breast self-exam could save your breast -- and save your life. Most breast lumps are found by women themselves, but in fact, most lumps in the breast are not cancer. Be safe, be sure.

When to do Breast Self-Exam?

The best time to do breast self-exam is right after your period, when breasts are not tender or swollen. If you do not have regular periods or sometimes skip a month, do it on the same day every month.

How to do Breast Self-Exam?

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1. Lie down and put a pillow under your right shoulder. Place your right arm behind your head.

2. Use the finger pads of your three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps or thickening. Your finger pads are the top third of each finger.

3. Press firmly enough to know how your breast feels. If you're not sure how hard to press, ask your health care provider. Or try to copy the way your health care provider uses the finger pads during a breast exam. Learn what your breast feels like most of the time. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal.

4. Move around the breast in a set way. You can choose either the circle (A), the up and down (B), or the wedge (C). Do it the same way every time. It will help you to make sure that you've gone over the entire breast area, and to remember how your breast feels.

5. Now examine your left breast using right hand finger pads.

6. If you find any changes, see your doctor right away.

For Added Safety

You should also check your breasts while standing in front of a mirror right after you do your breast self-exam each month. See if there are any changes in the way your breasts look: dimpling of the skin, changes in the nipple, or redness or swelling.

You might also want to do a breast self-exam while you're in the shower. Your soapy hands will glide over wet skin making it easy to check how your breasts feel.

Regular screening for breast cancer is an important part of your health plan. American Cancer Society guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer:

If you have a history of breast cancer in your family, discuss mammography screening guidelines and scheduling with your health care provider.

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