From OncoLog, April 2006, Vol. 51, No. 4
House Call: What Is “Breast Self-Awareness”?
“I don’t do breast self-exams because I don’t know how.” That’s what many doctors hear from their patients. But new screening guidelines are demystifying the process and assuring women that they will know if something is wrong with their breasts. Today, doctors believe that women should practice “breast self-awareness” by being familiar with how their breasts look and feel and reporting any changes to their doctor immediately.
Breast self-awareness found to be effective
The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center no longer recommends that women follow a formal technique in checking their breasts for suspicious lumps or changes—a practice that was once called “breast self-exam.” The shift to breast self-awareness was made for several reasons:
- The idea of breast self-exams confused women. Some women weren’t sure if they were conducting breast self-exams in the right way, and because of that, many did not practice breast self-exams at all.
- A specific technique is not needed. Research has not shown a benefit for women in finding breast lumps by following a formal technique.
- Women find suspicious lumps without any training or technique. M. D. Anderson Cancer Center breast oncologists saw that most of their patients found a breast lump or other symptom of breast cancer when they were going about everyday activities, such as showering or dressing.
Breast self-awareness does not require special training—women just need to know their own bodies. M. D. Anderson recommends that women be familiar with the look and feel of their breasts—and that there’s no right or wrong way to do that. Touching can range from informal touching, such as in the shower, to conscious touching to feel for any changes.
The following are frequently asked questions and answers about breast self-awareness.
How do I know if my breast feels different?
It’s common to wonder whether you’d recognize a breast change. Generally, if you can’t tell whether you have a change in your breast, there probably hasn’t been a change.
For example, if you were grocery shopping and picked up a bag of grapes, you’d feel the lumps and bumps of the grapes. Now, imagine someone added a rock to the bag of grapes. Would you be able to tell the difference between the grapes and the rock? Of course you would.
Breasts are made up of numerous lobules, similar to a bag of grapes, so lumpy, bumpy breasts are perfectly normal. In the same way that you wouldn’t expect a bag of grapes to be smooth, you shouldn’t expect your breasts to be smooth either. But if you notice something that looks or feels different from what you’re used to, tell your doctor immediately.
Should I touch my breasts at a certain time of the month?
For premenopausal women (women still having periods), the ideal time to touch the breasts is usually right after a menstrual period. After a woman’s period, hormone levels are lower, making breast tissue softer and less tender and making changes easier to feel.
What kind of changes should I look for?
Many changes aren’t cancer, but here are some changes to look for. If you notice any of these changes—or even a breast change not on this list—and it lasts for more than 2 weeks, tell your doctor promptly:
- Lump or mass in your breast
- Enlarged lymph nodes in the armpit
- Changes in breast size, shape, skin texture, or color
- Skin redness
- Dimpling or puckering
- Nipple changes or discharge
- Scaliness
- Nipple pulling to one side or a change in direction
For more information on this topic or for questions about M. D. Anderson’s treatments, programs, or services, call askMDAnderson at (877) MDA-6789.
TOPHome/Current Issue | Previous Issues | Articles by Topic | Patient Education
About Oncolog | Contact OncoLog
Sign Up for E-mail Alerts
©2009 The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center
1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030
1-877-MDA-6789 (USA) / 1-713-792-3245
Patient Referral Legal Statements Privacy Policy