Today, routine mammograms are considered the mainstay of breast cancer screening, while BSEs and clinical breast exams (CBEs) performed by healthcare providers are no longer recommended by most leading healthcare authorities.
For its part, the American Cancer Society (ACS) accepts that “some women might still be comfortable doing regular self-exams as a way to keep track of how their breasts look and feel” even though there is little evidence that doing so will improve the odds of early detection of breast cancer survival.
This article offers a step-by-step guide on how to perform a BSE and some of the irregularities to report to your healthcare provider if you find them.
Take note of your breasts since your last BSE; they should be their usual shape, size, and color.
There should not be any dimpling, puckering, or bulging of the breasts. Your nipples should not be in a different position or unusually inverted (sucked in). There should also not be any redness, soreness, rash, or swelling.
If there are, speak with your healthcare provider as soon as possible.
Look under both arms, checking for any swelling or lumps in the armpits. You are looking for swollen lymph nodes, which any number of things can cause, from a simple case of flu to cancer.
Start by lowering your left arm. Next, with your right hand’s index and middle fingers, gently squeeze the left nipple, pulling it forward and letting it go. The nipple should spring back rather than slowly sinking back into the breast.
Check for any unusual bumps, indentations, dimpling, or signs of retraction.
Also, note if any fluid is leaking from one or both nipples. A clear or bloody discharge is potentially problematic, especially if only one nipple is involved. The leakage may be due to a blocked milk duct or an infection (mainly if it is green, white, or yellow).
Switch sides and repeat.
Finally, move your hand in a circular motion, being sure to cover the entire breast area. Take note of any changes in the texture, color, or size of your breast.
Switch sides and repeat.
Take note of any changes in the texture or size of your breasts.
Switch sides and repeat.
Not only is there little evidence that BSE improve early detection or survival in people with breast cancer, but BSEs may also lead to unnecessary and invasive breast biopsies for lumps that are benign.
If used, BSEs should never be considered a substitute for screening mammographies.
A Word From Verywell
Although the ACS and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) both advise against the use of breast self-exams, this does not mean that you should ignore your breasts until your next scheduled mammogram.
In fact. the ACS states that “women should be familiar with how their breasts normally look and feel and should report any changes to a healthcare provider right away.”
If you do decide to do a breast self-exam, remember that the lack of lumps or other breast irregularities does not mean that you are “clear” of cancer. Keep to your recommended mammogram schedule or schedule one as soon as possible if you are overdue.
Other signs of breast cancer include:
· Skin redness
· Skin dimpling
· Fluid leaking from your nipple
· A change in the size of your breast
