Be Proactive
Being proactive can start with you by simply knowing what to look for and how often you should visit a healthcare professional. Breast cancer is one of the most frequently diagnosed cancers in women. Early detection cancer can save lives and increase treatment options. The following breast cancer screening schedule is recommended by the American Cancer Society.
- Age 40 and over – Mammogram and clinical breast exam yearly.
- For most women, mammography provides the best way to find breast cancer at an early stage, when treatment is usually the most highly successful. A mammogram is a low-dose X-ray of your breasts that can detect many changes that are too small or too deep to feel.
- Your clinical breast exam is a physical examination of your breasts by a healthcare professional.
- Age 20s and 30s – Clinical Breast Exam every three years and self-breast exam as often as you choose.
- Your clinical breast exam is a physical examination of your breasts by a healthcare professional.
- If you choose to do a self-exam, your clinical breast exam is a good time to get instructions on how to examine your breast correctly.
- See below for instructions on how to conduct a self-breast exam.
- Starting in your 20s – Choose whether or how often to do a self-breast exam.
- Breast self-exams can help you become familiar with how your breasts normally look and feel. This knowledge may help you identify any breast changes that should promptly be reported to your healthcare professional. Below are instructions on how to conduct a self-breast exam.
How to Complete a Self Breast Exam
Download our Self Exam Guide as a PDF to save on your computer or print it out for future reference.