Breast Self-Exam

 

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. The key? Early detection. Developed in English and Spanish, this audiovisual resource teaches individuals how to look and feel for any breast changes. Click below to learn or perfect your BSE technique and skills.

 

Breast Self Exam             


Just a note... Woman to Woman

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women, but it can be successfully treated. The key? Early detection. Developed in English and Spanish, this audiovisual resource teaches individuals how to look and feel for any breast changes. Click link above to learn or perfect your BSE technique and skills.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Step by Step Directions

1.) Lie down. Flatten your right breast by placing a pillow under your right shoulder. Place your right arm behind your head.

2.) Use the sensitive finger pads (where your fingerprints are, not the tips) of the middle three fingers on your left hand. Feel for lumps using a circular, rubbing motion in small, dime-sized circles without lifting the fingers. Powder, oil or lotion can be applied to the breast to make it easier for the fingers to glide over the surface and feel changes.

3.) Press firmly enough to feel different breast tissues, using three different pressures. First, light pressure to just move the skin without jostling the tissue beneath, then medium pressure pressing midway into the tissue, and finally deep pressure to probe more deeply down to the ribs or to the point just short of discomfort.

4.) Completely feel all of the breast and chest area up under your armpit, and up to the collarbone and all the way over to your shoulder to cover breast tissue that extends toward the shoulder.

5.) Use the same pattern to feel every part of the breast tissue. Choose the method easiest for you:

Lines: start in the underarm area and move your fingers downward little by little until they are below the breast. Then move your fingers slightly toward the middle, and slowly move back up. Go up and down until you cover the whole area.

Circles: Beginning at the outer edge of your breast, move your fingers slowly around the breast in a circle. Move around the breast in smaller and smaller circles, gradually working toward the nipple. Don't forget to check the underarm and upper chest areas, too.

Wedges: Starting at the outer edge of the breast, move your fingers toward the nipple and back to the edge. Check your whole breast, covering one small wedge-shaped section at a time. Be sure to check the underarm area and the upper chest.

After you have completely examined your right breast, then examine your left breast using the same method and your right hand, with a pillow under your left shoulder.

The Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool was developed by scientists at the National Cancer Institute and the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project (NSABP) to assist health care providers in discussing breast cancer risk and tamoxifen with their female patients. The tool allows one to project a woman's individual estimate of breast cancer risk over a 5-year period of time and over her lifetime. It also compares the woman's risk calculation with the average risk for a woman of the same age. Information about the risks and benefits of taking tamoxifen are included. This version of the risk tool enables a health care provider to print the results of a woman's risk calculation directly from the Internet.

 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Breast Cancer Facts... October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

Breast cancer is the most common non-skin cancer in women. According to the American Cancer Society, an estimated 40,800 women in the U.S. will die of breast cancer in the year 2000, and 182,800 new cases will be diagnosed. Breast cancer ranks second among cancer deaths in women. However, there is some encouraging news. More and more, breast cancer is being detected early through mammography screening. Currently, two-thirds of newly diagnosed breast cancers show no signs that the cancer has spread beyond a woman’s breast. Studies done over the past 30 years clearly show that regular mammography screening significantly reduces the death rate from breast cancer in women over the age of 50. Recent results show that regular mammography screening also reduces death rates from breast cancer in women who begin screening in their forties.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Why?

 

The American Cancer Society recommends that all women over the age of 20 examine their breasts once a month. By examining your breasts regularly, you will know how your breasts normally feel. If a change should happen in your breasts, you will be able to identify it and let your doctor know. Most lumps are found by women themselves. If you find any lumps, thickenings or changes, tell your doctor right away. Remember, most breast lumps are not cancerous, but you don't know if you don't ask. Breast cancer may be successfully treated if you find it and treat it early. Delaying the diagnosis of breast cancer does not change the diagnosis, it only worsens the outcome.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When?

 

You should do a Breast Self-Exam (BSE) every month 2 or 3 days after your period. If you do not have regular periods, just do it the same day every month...like the first... or the tenth...or the day that matches your birthday. (Note: just before your period or during pregnancy, your breasts may be somewhat lumpy or more tender.) If you are taking hormones, talk with your doctor about when to do BSE.

Remind your friends and loved ones to get a mammogram today! For more information on breast cancer please visit: American Cancer Society’s Web site at www.cancer.org


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

 


*The information provided here is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between a patient and his/her personal physician.*