Breast Health » Breast Self Exam
Like mammography and clinical breast exam, breast self-exam is intended to increase a woman's chances of detecting a small tumor at a time when it may be more responsive to treatment. Of particular importance with breast self-exam is the opportunity to detect tumors that develop in the time between annual mammograms and clinical breast exams. By doing 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, or spontaneous nipple discharge.
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 contours of the breast tissue. The kinds of lumps that are of concern are ones that are referred to as "dominant," meaning that they are firmer than the rest of the breast. When a dominant 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 lump that feels dominant, she should have it checked by a medical professional.
Click here for a demonstration on how to perform a breast self exam.
Breast Self Exam shower cards are available from the Komen Grand Rapids Affiliate in English, Spanish and other languages. If you or your organization would like to request a card or cards, please contact us at (616) 752-8262.
Previous page: Mammography
Next page: Resource Guide