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A breast examination is an important part of routine physical checkups.
How often should I have a clinical breast exam?
A
breast physical examination by a health care provider (such as your family
physician, nurse, or gynecologist) should be performed at least every three years
starting at age 20 and every year starting at age 40. A clinical breast exam may
be recommended more frequently if you have a strong family history of breast
cancer.
When should I schedule a clinical breast exam?
Breast
exams are best performed soon after your menstrual period ends, because your
breasts will not be as tender and swollen as during the menstrual period.
This makes it easier for the provider to detect any unusual changes. If
you have stopped menstruating, schedule the yearly exam on a day easy for you to
remember, such as your birthdate.
What happens during a breast physical exam?
Your health care provider will ask you detailed questions about your
health history, including your menstrual and pregnancy history. Questions might
include at what age you started menstruating and how old you were when your first
child was born, if applicable.
A thorough breast exam will be performed. Your health care provider will
look at your breasts to detect any changes in size or shape. Your provider may
ask you to lift your arms over your head, put your hands on your hips, or lean
forward. He or she will examine your breasts for any skin changes including
rashes, dimpling, or redness. As you lay on your back with your arms behind your
head, your health care provider will examine your breasts with the pads of the
fingers to detect lumps, dense masses, tenderness, or other changes in the breast
tissue. The area under both arms will also be examined.
Your health care provider will gently press around your nipple to check
for any discharge. If there is a nipple discharge, a sample may be collected to
be examined under a microscope so cancer cells can be detected.
Repeated examinations by a health care provider may bring attention to areas
that require additional testing, such as benign lumps and masses or areas of
thickening. Areas that have changed or may cause concern can be charted or
documented on a diagram, making it easier to detect small changes at the next
examination.
Complete breast cancer screening
Clinical
and breast self examination are important methods of early breast cancer
detection and should be performed along with mammography. All three of these
methods provide complete breast cancer screening.
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