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Breast Self-Examination

Breast cancer prevention begins at home, with monthly breast self-examinations that should begin at age 30. Learn how, and follow-up with an annual exam by your doctor.

Beginning at the age of 30, every woman should examine her breasts monthly and have them examined by a physician yearly. When beginning breast examinations, it is a good idea for a woman to examine her own breasts under the supervision of a nurse practitioner or physician. A large percentage of lumps in the breasts are discovered by women during self-examination. If any lumps or irregularities are found during your breast self-examination, contact your physician immediately.

How to Perform a Breast Self-Examination (you can use either the circular or vertical method)

1. The circular self-breast examination starts in a sitting position in front of a mirror.

You should examine your breasts visually with your shoulders back, looking for irregularities and differences in the skin as dimpling, puckering, or changes in the nipple.

Then, in a sitting position and later lying on your back, you should carefully feel each quarter section of each breast moving your hands slowly from each area and feeling first lightly and then deeply; the latter should create a feeling of pressure and even slight discomfort.

2. To do a vertical-strip examination, move your fingers from the top of the breast to the bottom, beginning at the outside of the breast and covering about one-half inch of the breast tissue in each "strip".

Self-examination should be done between menstrual periods. The breasts become engorged just prior to and during the menstrual period, and this normal engorgement can mistakenly be interpreted as a tumor.

It is important to do breast self-examinations not only to detect cancer in its earlier stages, but also to detect non-cancerous lumps because such benign growths may become cancerous. If such growths are detected and observed carefully, they can, if necessary, be removed before cancer develops or as soon as a cancerous change take place, before spread can occur.

Healthful Life Recommendations:

1. Every woman aged 30 or older should perform monthly breast self-examination. Breast cancer is infrequent before age 30, but some experts urge starting breast self-examinations at age 20 or 25.

2. Women should learn how to find lumps using models of the breast that many doctors and clinics have. Calling the local cancer society is the best way to find out where to go for the proper training.

3. Each woman should become familiar with the texture of her breasts and not be afraid of finding a lump. Finding a cancer early can only help her.

4. In addition to monthly breast self-examinations, each year, a breast examination should be conducted by an expert (doctor or nurse).