1. Early Detection is the Key
Breast Self Exam
Early Detection is the Key

2. Taking Care of YOU
The best gift you can give to yourself and your family is a healthy YOU.

3. Three Steps to Early Detection
1. Mammogram- yearly starting at age 40
- American Cancer Society recommends yearly breast self exams beginning at age 20.

4. Three Steps to Early Detection
2. Clinical Breast Examination-
Yearly by your Health Care Provider

5. Three Steps to Early Detection
3. Breast Self Exam (BSE)- Monthly

6. When to contact your Doctor or Health Care Provider
Anytime you notice changes in your breasts.
Changes that continue even after your period is over to include:
Nipple discharge or skin changes
Breast tenderness unrelated to your period
Lump

7. When to Perform an Exam Monthly
6-7 days after your menstrual period ends
If you no longer have a menstrual period, choose a certain day and do your exam at the same time each month.

8. Breast Self Exam (BSE)
The key to BSE is knowing what is “normal” in your breasts:
Textures (how the breasts feel) that are present each month.
Visual (how the breasts look) characteristics of your breasts that are normal for you.
Areas of pain or tenderness that are part of your monthly cycle.

9. Breast Self Exam (BSE)
Once you know what is “normal”, you will be able to notice when there is a change.
If you identify a change in your breast call your Health Care Provider to perform a complete examination of your breasts.

10. Steps for Breast Self Exam
Visual
Standing/Sitting Upright
Lying down

11. Technique
Use the pads of your 3 middle fingers, perform a circular motion with your fingers.
Make a dime-sized circle in each area of your breast.

12. Technique
• Starting in your armpit, do an exam using vertical strips, up and down, across the entire breasts.
• Make a circle in each area on your breast along the vertical lines.

13. Visual Examination While looking in the mirror
Put your arms above your head
Put your arms out to the side
Put your arms on your waist and lean forward
Changes to look for:
Dimples
Nipple changes
Redness
Leathery looking skin

14. Upright Examination In the shower or in front of the mirror
Perform the exam
From the breast bone, to the armpit
From the collarbone to the ribs

15. Lying Down Examination
Perform the same exam when lying down
Use 3 fingers
Move from armpit to breast bone in a vertical strip pattern
At each area, use a circular motion to feel the breast

16. When to Contact Your Doctor
Anytime you notice changes in your breasts
Changes that continue even after your period is over
Nipple discharge or skin changes
Breast tenderness unrelated to your period
Lump

17. Remember to schedule your annual screening Mammogram
if you’re 40
or older!