SELF-EXAM INFORMATION

Early Detection Saves Lives!

Breast Self-Exam

Breast self-exam is a screening method that is intended to find early tumors, particularly those that develop in the time between annual mammograms and clinical breast exams. By doing breast self-exams once a month, women can become familiar with the way their breasts look and feel normally and thus may be able to recognize changes, such as thickening, lumps, spontaneous nipple discharge or skin changes, such as dimpling or puckering.

When doing breast self-exams, many women may find that their breasts feel lumpy, because breast tissue naturally has a bumpy texture. There is also a great deal of individual variation, so that for some women, the lumpiness is more pronounced than for others. In most cases, this lumpiness is no cause to worry. If the lumpiness can be felt throughout the breast, then it is probably just the normal breast tissue. The kinds of lumps that are of concern are ones that are firmer than the rest of the breast. When such a lump is found, there is more of a risk that it may be cancer, although cysts and fibroadenomas can cause similar lumps. Any time a woman discovers a new lump that feels different from the rest of the breast or one that is different from what she has felt before, she should have it checked by a health care provider.

Learning How To Do A Breast Self-Exam

To find out how to do a breast self-exam, ask a health care provider, call Susan G. Komen for the Cure's National Toll-Free Breast Care Helpline, 1-800 I'M AWARE^® (1-800-462-9273) or click here to download a self-exam card in PDF format (English and Spanish versions). You can also visit www.komen.org/bse for online instruction using animation, viewable in English and Spanish.