Difference between revisions of "Do a Breast Self Exam"
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| − | + | Breast self-exams are an optional screening tool for women to check themselves for early signs of breast cancer. Performing these exams monthly can help you familiarize yourself with the look and feel of your breasts so that you can more easily detect changes.<ref name="rf1">http://www.uptodate.com/contents/breast-cancer-screening-the-basics?source=search_result&search=breast+self+exam&selectedTitle=1~48</ref> Though breast self-exams were once thought to be essential to screening for breast cancer, they are now considered a helpful, optional tool. | |
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[[Category:Breast Health]] | [[Category:Breast Health]] | ||
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#*Many people have a hard time knowing which lumps in a breast are normal and which ones aren’t. One purpose of regular breast self exams is to get an understanding of which lumps are normal and which are new. If you are having trouble figuring it out, ask your doctor to show you what is normal and what isn’t. Your doctor may have a model that demonstrates this in their office. | #*Many people have a hard time knowing which lumps in a breast are normal and which ones aren’t. One purpose of regular breast self exams is to get an understanding of which lumps are normal and which are new. If you are having trouble figuring it out, ask your doctor to show you what is normal and what isn’t. Your doctor may have a model that demonstrates this in their office. | ||
#*If the lump is small and doesn’t feel this way, you still should contact your doctor to make sure there is nothing wrong. There is no need to panic. Eight out of ten lumps are not cancerous.<ref name="rf5" /><ref name="rf8" /> | #*If the lump is small and doesn’t feel this way, you still should contact your doctor to make sure there is nothing wrong. There is no need to panic. Eight out of ten lumps are not cancerous.<ref name="rf5" /><ref name="rf8" /> | ||
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== Tips == | == Tips == | ||
*Self-exams alone are not sufficient to properly detect breast cancer. They should always be combined with regular mammogram screenings. Remember that mammograms can detect breast cancer before a visible lump can be felt or seen. | *Self-exams alone are not sufficient to properly detect breast cancer. They should always be combined with regular mammogram screenings. Remember that mammograms can detect breast cancer before a visible lump can be felt or seen. | ||
