When do i do breast exam

Many women find that the easiest way to feel their breasts is when their skin is wet and slippery, so they like to do this step in the shower. Cover your entire breast, using the same hand movements described in step 4.

Most women have some lumps or lumpy areas in their breasts all the time, and most breast lumps turn out to be benign not cancer.

There are a number of possible causes of non-cancerous breast lumps, including normal hormonal changes, a benign breast condition , or an injury.

This is especially true for changes that last more than one full menstrual cycle or seem to get bigger or more prominent in some way.

If you menstruate, you may want to wait until after your period to see if the lump or other breast change disappears on its own before calling your doctor. The best healthcare provider to call would be one who knows you and has done a breast exam on you before — for example, your gynecologist, primary care doctor, or a nurse practitioner who works with your gynecologist or primary care doctor.

Know what to expect. At an appointment to evaluate a breast lump, your doctor will take a health history and do a physical exam of the breast, and will most likely order breast imaging tests. Ultrasound is often the first or only imaging test used to evaluate a lump in women who are under age 30 or are pregnant or breastfeeding. Both an ultrasound and a mammogram are typically recommended to evaluate a lump in women who are over age 30 and not pregnant or breastfeeding.

He or she may also refer you to a breast specialist typically, a breast surgeon for further evaluation. Make sure you get answers. Make it routine. The more you examine your breasts, the more you will learn about them and the easier it will become for you to tell if something has changed.

This early diagnostic method is an effective way to determine if the lump is a benign cyst or tumor. An ultrasound is also useful for evaluating symptoms, changes, or monitoring existing lumps.

This is an essential tool for examining breast tissue, not a required exam for all women. Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is a device that uses radio waves and magnets to create elaborate photos of breast tissues. This test is sometimes used to diagnose breast cancer; it is also used to assess any known tumors.

Your doctor will advise you on whether an MRI is necessary for your testing. How often you should get or perform a breast exam depends on a few factors. All women must learn how to do a self-exam and repeat it every month at home. How often you should receive professional testing depends on your age and risk. Find the recommended frequency for individual breast exams below.

Most women have an average risk of developing breast cancer. The risk of developing the disease increases with age. Below are the recommended exams for each age category for women with an average risk. Women in their twenties and thirties should get a clinical breast exam every one to three years to look for breast cancer. Women over forty should receive both a mammogram and clinical breast exam every year to monitor for breast cancer. Women older than 75 should discuss their personal circumstances with their doctor.

Only a doctor can decide if breast cancer screening after this age is necessary or advised. Some women have an increased risk of developing breast cancer. Aging only adds to the increased risk. Risk factors for breast cancer include:. Contact us if you believe you may be at an increased risk of breast cancer. We can offer personalized support and recommendations for your testing protocol. Women who have a high risk of breast cancer should begin mammogram testing before age These women may also need an MRI in combination with mammograms.

We recommend the yearly well-woman exam or female physical to all women when they become sexually active or when they reach age 21, whichever happens first. Your safety, comfort, and health are our top priorities. Included in the well-woman exam are a clinical breast examination, pelvic examination, and a PAP smear. Most major health insurance plans cover these preventive care services one time per year.

If you find the same kind of lump in the same area on the other breast, both breasts are probably normal. In addition to examining your breasts while lying down, you may also check them while in the shower. Soapy fingers slide easily across the breast and may make it easier to feel changes. While standing in a shower, place one arm over your head and lightly soap your breast on that side.

Then, using the flat surface of your fingers—not the fingertips—gently move your hand over your breast, feeling carefully for any lumps or thickened areas. It takes practice to perform a breast self-examination. Having fibrocystic lumps also may make a breast self-examination difficult, because lumps occur throughout the breast. Ask your doctor for tips that can help you do it correctly. After you know what your breasts normally look and feel like, any changes should be checked by a doctor.

Changes may include:. Remember that most breast problems or changes are caused by something other than cancer. Even if you choose to do breast self-examinations, talk to your doctor about having regular mammograms as well as regular breast checkups at your doctor's office or the mammogram centre. The risk of doing breast self-examinations is that you may find a breast change that makes you anxious and may lead to unnecessary tests such as a biopsy.

Also, a change you notice on a breast self-examination may be a kind of cancer that would never cause symptoms or threaten your life. But because no one can tell what kinds of cancer will cause problems, all cancers are treated. This means that you may end up having treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy that you don't need. These treatments can cause harmful side effects. Many experts believe that the harms of breast self-examinations outweigh the benefits.

Others consider it an option for women. Talk with your doctor about breast self-examinations. Author: Healthwise Staff. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Overview A breast self-exam for breast awareness is an inspection of your breasts that you do on your own.

The latest on newly diagnosed breast cancer Up-to-date information on recurrent breast cancer Specialized treatment information for high risk breast cancer Error Select a topic. Email address. Thank you for subscribing You will receive the first breast cancer email in your inbox shortly, which will include information on treatment, diagnosis, surgery and how breast cancer teams at Mayo Clinic approach personalized care.

Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry. More Information Breast cancer Breast cysts Breast pain Fibrocystic breasts Male breast cancer Paget's disease of the breast Show more related information. Request an Appointment at Mayo Clinic. Breast self-exam Open pop-up dialog box Close. Breast self-exam To perform a breast self-exam for breast awareness, use a methodical approach that ensures you cover your entire breast.

Share on: Facebook Twitter. Show references Sabel MS. Clinical manifestations and diagnosis of palpable breast mass. Accessed May 31, Swartz MH. The breast. Philadelphia, Pa. Oeffinger KC, et al.