Amercian Cancer Society

Breast Self-Exams Help Detect Breast Cancer Early

A breast self-exam is one of three tests the American Cancer Society recommends to help detect breast cancer in its earliest stages. The goal of these early detection tests is to find cancers early enough to give women the best chance of living a long life.

The size of the breast tumor and the extent a breast cancer has spread are the most important factors in predicting the prognosis (outlook for survival) of a woman with this disease. Finding a breast cancer as early as possible greatly improves the likelihood that treatment will be successful. There is no question that early detection tests for breast cancer save many thousands of lives each year, and that many more lives could be saved if even more women and their health care providers took advantage of these tests.

American Cancer Society Recommendations for Early Breast Cancer Detection

• Women aged 40 and older should have a screening mammogram every year.
• Between the ages of 20 and 39, women should have a clinical breast examination by a health professional every 3 years. After age 40, women should have a breast exam by a health professional every year.
• Women aged 20 or older should perform a breast self-examination (BSE) every month. By doing the exam regularly, you get to know how your breasts normally feel and you can more readily detect any signs or symptoms.

If a change occurs, such as development of a lump or swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction (turning inward), redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk, you should see your health care provider as soon as possible for evaluation. However, remember that most of the time, these breast changes are not cancer.

Although there are some features of a mass that suggest whether it is likely to be benign or cancerous, women examining their own breasts should discuss any new lump with their health care professionals.

Experienced health care professionals can examine the breast and determine whether the changes you have noticed are probably benign or whether there is a possibility they may be due to a breast cancer. They can determine when additional tests are appropriate to rule out a cancer and when follow-up exams are the best strategy. If there is any suspicion of cancer, a biopsy will be done.

The American Cancer Society believes the use of mammography, clinical breast examination, and breast self-examination, according to the recommendations outlined above, offers women the best opportunity for reducing the breast cancer death rate through early detection. This combined approach is clearly better than any one examination. Without question, breast physical examination without mammography would miss the opportunity to detect many breast cancers that are too small for a woman or her doctor to feel but can be seen on mammograms. Although mammography is the most sensitive screening method, a small percentage of breast cancers do not show up on mammograms but can be felt by a woman or her doctors.

Breast Self-Examination

By regularly examining her own breasts, a woman is likely to notice any changes that occur. The best time for breast self-examination (BSE) is about a week after your period ends, when your breasts are not tender or swollen. If you are not having regular periods, do BSE on the same day every month. Women who are pregnant, breast-feeding or have breast implants also need to do regular breast self-examinations.

• Lie down with a pillow under your right shoulder and place your right arm behind your head.
• Use the finger pads of the three middle fingers on your left hand to feel for lumps in the right breast.
• Press firmly enough to know how your breast feels. A firm ridge in the lower curve of each breast is normal. If you're not sure how hard to press, talk with your doctor or nurse.
• Move around the breast in a circular, up and down line, or wedge pattern. Be sure to do it the same way every time, check the entire breast area, and remember how your breast feels from month to month.
• Repeat the exam on your left breast, using the finger pads of the right hand. (Move the pillow to under your left shoulder.)
• Repeat the examination of both breasts while standing, with your one arm behind your head. The upright position makes it easier to check the upper and outer part of the breasts (toward your armpit). This is where about half of breast cancers are found. You may want to do the standing part of the BSE while you are in the shower. Some breast changes can be felt more easily when your skin is wet and soapy.
• For added safety, you can check your breasts for any dimpling of the skin, changes in the nipple, redness or swelling while standing in front of a mirror right after your BSE each month.
• If you find any changes, see your doctor right away.

Source: American Cancer Society