Christian County Public Health Department

Breast Examinations

Early detection of breast cancer can be key to survival. Breast self-exams, clinical breast exams, and screening mammography are essential in helping to detect breast cancer early, when the chances of a complete cure are the greatest.

For the exam, you will be asked to lie on your back on the table with your gown open. The doctor or nurse will press with his/her fingers on different parts of your breasts. This process helps him/her look for "normal" lumps (which are common and harmless), cysts, or breast cancer.

The doctor may ask you if you do regular breast self-exams. Breast self-examination (BSE) is a very important part of every adult woman’s personal health regimen. BSE should be performed once each month beginning at age 20 and should continue each month throughout a woman’s lifetime. To learn how to do a breast self-exam, click here. Knowing how your breasts normally feel may help you to detect abnormalities early.

Adult women should also receive regular physician-performed clinical breast exams. The American Cancer Society recommends women under 40 years old receive a clinical breast exam every three years, and women 40 and older receive a screening mammogram and a clinical breast exam every year.

According to a 1997 study by the National Center for Health Statistics

6% of adults 18 and over had cancer at some time in their life.

Statistics showed women were somewhat more likely to have cancer than men were.

In women 65 and older, 6% had breast cancer at some time in their life.

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