It is no secret that breast cancer affects the lives of thousands each year, making prevention and early detection more important than ever. While most women understand the importance of annual mammograms, there is another simple step each woman should take to help with early detection: breast self-exams.
What is a Breast Self-Exam?
To start, it’s simple! A self-exam doesn’t require any special tools, extensive knowledge or a lot of time. It simply requires you to look and feel for irregularities on your breasts.
How often is a Breast Self-Exam necessary?
A self-exam should be done once a month.
What am I looking for?
Experts from the National Breast Cancer Foundation and BreastCancer.org each provide a step-by-step process for an effective breast self-exam. Click either of the buttons below to learn these simple steps:
Why are Breast Self-Exams so important?
A regular breast self-exam should not replace your annual mammogram, as tumors can go unfelt in the early stages of development. However, a regular self-exam will help you know what is regular for your breasts, giving you the ability to realize when something changes. Additionally, the National Breast Cancer Foundation says…
“Forty percent of diagnosed breast cancers are detected by women who feel a lump, so establishing a regular breast self-exam is very important.”
Annual mammograms and monthly self-exams are 2 of the best steps you can take to make sure breast cancer can be detected early.