Breast Exams
In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month will be sharing articles and resources to help raise awareness about the impact of breast cancer. Breast self-exams, or BSEs, are extremely helpful measures in detecting abnormalities and sometimes even catching cancer in its earliest stages. Clinical exams, breast self-exams (BSEs), and mammograms should all be done on a regular basis to see if there are any changes in the breast tissue that could indicate breast cancer or other potentially dangerous disorders.
Clinical Exams and Mammograms
The American Cancer Society recommends clinical breast exams every three years for women between 20 and 40, and annually for women 40 and older. Starting at age 45, healthy women should have yearly mammograms.
Breast Tissue Changes
Contact your doctor if you notice any of the following changes to your breast or nipple tissue while doing a BSE:
- Lumps
- Dimpling, red or scaly skin
- Nipple discharge or pain
It is normal for breast tissue to change during menstrual cycles, pregnancy, menopause, or while taking birth control pills or other hormone therapy. However, if you notice changes at other times in your life, it is strongly suggested that you visit a doctor immediately.
More in-depth information on how to perform a BSE is available at www.komen.org. This website also provides a Breast Self-Awareness Interactive Tool that you can view. Or, check out this diagram on www.breastcancer.org, which illustrates how to perform a thorough self-exam.
Performing Self-exams
In between clinical exams and mammograms, women should complete BSEs to become familiar with the look and feel of their breasts when healthy, so that changes can be detected as early as possible.
- Lie down and place one arm behind your head.
- Use the pads of your middle three fingers on the opposite hand to check your breast tissue in overlapping, dime-sized circular motions.
- Use an up-and-down pattern starting at your underarm and moving all the way to the middle of your breastbone to feel for changes.
- Standing with your hands on your hips, look in a mirror for changes in size, shape, contour or coloring of your breasts.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For further information, please consult a medical professional. © 2007-2009. 2012, 2014, 2017-2018 Zywave, Inc. All rights reserved.
About the Author
Share This Story
Related Blogs
Putting HR Technology to Work: How INSURICA Clients Gain an Edge with OutSail
Payroll errors that hit the general ledger, open-enrollment portals that freeze at midnight, new hires juggling four log-ins on day one - when HR technology falters, the ripple effects reach every corner of the organization. Yet most employers still rely on a patchwork of legacy systems chosen under deadline pressure.
CPR and AED Training for School Staff: A Life-Saving Back-to-School Priority
As students return to campus, it’s important for school administrators to assess more than just academics and operations. One critical area that deserves attention is CPR and AED training for school staff. Ensuring your employees are prepared to respond to cardiac emergencies can save lives—and now is the perfect time to make it a priority.
Mental Health Parity Requirements are Still in Full Force—Even as New Federal Rules are Temporarily on Hold
In May 2025, the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and the Treasury announced a temporary pause in enforcement of the 2024 final rule under the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act (MHPAEA), following a legal challenge brought by an employer coalition. This enforcement pause gives the agencies time to reexamine certain provisions and consider future revisions through the regulatory process.