The Importance of a Self Breast Exam

The American Cancer Society believes the use of mammograms, clinical breast exams, and finding and reporting breast changes early offers women the best opportunity for reducing the breast cancer death rate through early detection. There are several statistics that tell us of the severity of breast cancer. These include:

- a woman dies from breast cancer every 12 minutes
- each year, 182,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with breast cancer
- approximately 46,000 (25%) of these diagnoses will result in death.
- Breast cancer is the second most common cancer found in women and the second most deadly cancer for women.

While these statistics often scare people, a simple breast self-examination could be the key to finding an abnormality early on. Since the American Cancer Society recommends that women aged 20 and older should conduct a breast self-exam on a monthly basis, it is never too soon to learn how to do it right. There are plenty of other hopeful statistics that exist that encourage early detection:

- the five year survival rate after early stage diagnosis and treatment is over 90%.
- if found early enough, almost 95% of all cases of breast cancer can be cured.

That’s why the BSE is so important. Anything you can do to help you find something early will greatly increase your ability to recieve treatment and subsequently increase your chances of beating the cancer. The purpose of a breast self exam is for you to learn the topography of your breasts. Knowing how your breasts normally feel will allow you to notice change in the future. Some women tend to believe that breast self exams are useless and not nearly as sensitive as an alternative screening such as a mammogram. The truth is, mammograms are not recommended until a woman turns 40. Some women may have cancer at age 20 but not know it until they receive a mammogram because they have never been tested in an alternative way. Another interesting fact is that while mammograms are the most sensitive screening method, a small percentage of breast cancers do not show up on mammograms, but can be felt by a woman or a doctor. While this small percentage may mean nothing to the majority, it is our opinion that if a simple self breast exam can save just one life, it is worth it.
The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. A lump that is painless, hard and has uneven edges is more likely to be cancer. However, some cancers are tender, soft, and rounded so it’s important to have anything unusual checked by your doctor.
Breast self exam is an option for women starting in their 20’s. Women should be told about it’s benefits. For more information visit www.cancer.org. Also be sure to check out our blog on how to give a self breast exam.