Mammography and Screening

Breast cancer screening methods

Breast self-exam (BSE) Click here for a virtual BSE.

Learn the normal look and feel of your breasts, and check for changes every month just as your period is ending. If you no longer have periods, do BSE the same day each month. Many women have a pattern of lumpiness in their breasts, which is normal.

If you are unfamiliar with breast self-exams, check our shower card.

When you do your breast self-exam every month, look and feel for the following signs of possible problems in your breast or underarm area:

• lumps, hard knot or thickening in any part of the breast
• unusual swelling, redness or warmth that does not go away
• change in the size or shape of your breast
• dimpling or puckering of the skin of your breast
• an itchy, sore, scaling area or rash on the nipple
• pulling in of the nipple or other parts of the breast
• nipple discharge that starts suddenly
• pain in one spot that does not vary with your monthly cycle

If you notice any of them, make an appointment to show them to a trained medical professional right away.

Clinical breast exam

A breast exam by a trained medical professional should be part of your regular medical checkup. If it is not, ask for it. A clinical breast exam includes a visual examination and carefully feeling the entire breast and underarm area. If you are 40 or older, schedule your mammogram close to the time of your clinical breast exam.

Mammogram

A mammogram is an x-ray picture of the breast. It is done with a special x-ray machine designed just for this purpose. A mammogram can find many cancers before they can be felt.