Hands-On-Health: Unlocking the Importance of Self-Breast Exams

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers affecting women worldwide. According to the American Cancer Society, breast cancer accounts for 30%, or one in three women, of all new female cancers each year. The silver lining through this disparaging reality, is that early detections can drastically increase the chance of a successful treatment and survival. While mammograms are crucial for detecting breast cancer early on, so are self-breast examinations between screenings. Doing these monthly check-ups not only empowers women to better understand their body, but also helps identify any changes that may warrant a further look by a healthcare provider.

What is a Self-Breast Exam and Why Does it Matter?

A woman can get breast cancer at any age. Generally, a baseline mammogram is recommended at age 40, and in some instances such as strong family history or other risk indicators, it may be recommended you start screenings in your late 30s. Annual screening mammograms are recommended until you reach an age that your doctor advises you no longer need it, which could be in your mid to late 80’s.

While it’s rare for young women to get breast cancer, they still account for 10% of all cases for ages 15 to 35. That is why self-breast exams are crucial since it can affect anyone at any given time.

A self-breast exam is a way to do your own examination of your breasts by using your hands and eyes. What is important to remember here, is you know your body best and would know best what seems to be out of the ordinary. Self-breast exams give women the ability to monitor the breast in real-time. By examining your breasts regularly, it helps you notice abnormalities in the breast tissues or detect if something feels different. Although not every lump or anomaly may be a sign of cancer, still, any new or unusual findings should always prompt a visit to a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

Studies have shown that 75% of breast cancers are detected by women themselves, underscoring the value or regular, attentive self-exams. While self-breast exams are not a substitute for regular mammograms, they serve as an additional layer of awareness that empowers individuals to take charge of their breast health. Early detection often leads to a wider range of treatment options and better outcomes.

How to Perform an Effective Self-Breast Exam

Performing self-breast exam takes only a few minutes and can be done in the comfort of your own home. A self-breast exam consists of two aspects: visual inspection and physical examination.

Visual examination:

1. Stand in front of a mirror with your shoulders straight and your arms at your side.
2. Look in the mirror for any visible changes in shape, size or color of your breasts. This includes any swelling, dimpling of the skin or changes in the nipples, such as inversions or discharge fluid, whether it is clear or bloody.
3. Raise your arms and repeat the inspections.
4. Place your hands on your hips and press firmly to flex your chest, noting any changes.

Physical examination (typically done while laying down or in the shower):

1. Place one arm behind your head and use the opposite to examine your breast.
2. Use the pads of your three middle fingers, check the entire breast area, including the armpit.
3. Follow a systematic pattern, such as moving in a circular motion from the outside to the center or vertical lines in a gentle, medium, then firm pressure, around the whole breast area and armpit. To ensure you are covering the whole breast. One option is using the “spokes of the wheel” method – 1 starting at the nipple and moving outward in straight lines. Another method is “clock face” – imagining the breast as a clock and examining each hour, moving your fingers in a vertical line from top to bottom.
4. Feel for any lumps, thickening, or hardened knots.
5. Repeat the process on the other breast.

If you detect any changes during your self-exam, it’s essential to consult a healthcare professional promptly, regardless of whether you’ve had a mammogram recently. There are some cases where women have developed breast cancer even just two months after a clear mammogram.

Noticing any of these changes doesn’t automatically mean you have breast cancer. Many conditions, such as cysts or fibroadenomas – a non-cancerous breast tumor that feels like a solid, firm or rubbery lump in the breast – can cause a benign lumps or changes. However, being proactive and seeing a healthcare provider can help you catch potential issues early.

It is recommended that women perform a self-breast exam once a month. For postmenopausal women, it’s best to choose a consistent day each month to perform the self-exam.

Why Does It Matter If You have Dense Breasts?

Women with dense breast tissue are slightly more at high risk for breast cancer than women with fatty breast tissue. Making annual mammograms crucial because dense breast tissue can make it harder to detect breast cancer on a mammogram. It also reinforces the need of monthly annual self-exams, to help protect yourself from a possible tumor going undetected.

Women with dense breasts may need to discuss additional screening options with their primary care physician or their breast radiologists to ensure additional imagine studies, such as ultrasounds or breast MRIs aren’t needed to enhance the image of the breast. That is where specialized care by trained breast specialists is invaluable when you are seeking a place to go get a mammogram.

Our Role in Empowering Women’s Health

The MemorialCare Breast Center at Long Beach Medical Center, accredited by the National Accreditation Program for Breast Centers and American College of Radiology, is one of the 10 best breast centers in America that provides patients with high-quality, comprehensive and dedicated breast imaging. MemorialCare Breast Center specializes in the early detection of breast cancer – utilizing state-of-the-art technology for the highest level of breast imaging, including 3D digital mammography to provide clearer images of breast tissues, making it easier to spot abnormalities that might be missed with traditional mammograms. For women with dense breast tissue or those who are at higher risk of developing breast cancer, additional imaging services like high-resolution breast ultrasound, breast MRI, biopsies, ductography, tumor localizations, and bone densitometry are also available.

With an all-female team of fellowship-trained radiologists focused exclusively on breast imaging and intervention, these experts, along with a dedicated inter-disciplinary breast care team, understand the emotional and physical complexities of breast health. The breast care team aids in creating a compassionate and supportive environment, offering comprehensive education on breast health and support services for those diagnosed, and working with doctors to create individualized treatment plans for every woman who walks through the doors. Our certified breast cancer navigators possess the extensive knowledge and skills to make the journey easier for patients, from early detection through every step of care.

Approximately five to 10 percent of breast cancers are shown to be hereditary, linked to abnormal genes passed from parent to child. MemorialCare Breast Cancer Center’s certified genetic counselors help patients understand their hereditary risk factors. They will review your family history to determine if genetic testing is appropriate. Should you have genetic testing, a genetic counselor will review and explain your results.

While many breast changes are benign, only a medical professional can determine their significance. Early detection through regular self-breast exams, combined with regular mammogram screenings, significantly improves the chances of successful treatment if breast cancer is detected.

Early detection saves lives, and by combing self-awareness and expert care, you are giving yourself the best chance of healthy future.

If you would like to learn more or schedule your next mammogram, visit memorialcare.org/lbbreast.