Breast Self Exam

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Breast Self Exam

• Early Detection is the Key

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Taking Care of YOU

• The best gift you can give to yourself and your
  family is a healthy YOU.

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Three Steps to Early Detection

• 1. Mammogram- yearly starting at age 40
• - American Cancer Society recommends yearly
  breast self exams beginning at age 20.

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Three Steps to Early Detection

• 2. Clinical Breast Examination-
• Yearly by your Health Care Provider

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Three Steps to Early Detection

• 3. Breast Self Exam (BSE)- Monthly

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When to contact your Doctor or Health Care
Provider

• Anytime you notice changes in your breasts.
• Changes that continue even after your period is
  over to include
• Nipple discharge or skin changes
• Breast tenderness unrelated to your period
• Lump

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When to Perform an Exam

• Monthly
• 6-7 days after your menstrual period ends
• If you no longer have a menstrual period, choose
  a certain day and do your exam at the same time
  each month.

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Breast Self Exam (BSE)

• The key to BSE is knowing what is normal in
  your breasts
• Textures (how the breasts feel) that are present
  each month.
• Visual (how the breasts look) characteristics of
  your breasts that are normal for you.
• Areas of pain or tenderness that are part of your
  monthly cycle.

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Breast Self Exam (BSE)

• Once you know what is normal, you will be able
  to notice when there is a change.
• If you identify a change in your breast call your
  Health Care Provider to perform a complete
  examination of your breasts.

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Steps for Breast Self Exam

• Visual
• Standing/Sitting Upright
• Lying down

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Technique

• Use the pads of your 3 middle fingers, perform a
  circular motion with your fingers.
• Make a dime-sized circle in each area of your
  breast.

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Technique

• Starting in your armpit, do an exam using
  vertical strips, up and down, across the entire
  breasts.
• Make a circle in each area on your breast
  along the vertical lines.

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Visual Examination

• While looking in the mirror
• Put your arms above your head
• Put your arms out to the side
• Put your arms on your waist and lean forward
• Changes to look for
• Dimples
• Nipple changes
• Redness
• Leathery looking skin

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Upright Examination

• In the shower or in front of the mirror
• Perform the exam
• From the breast bone, to the armpit
• From the collarbone to the ribs

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Lying Down Examination

• Perform the same exam when lying down
• Use 3 fingers
• Move from armpit to breast bone in a vertical
  strip pattern
• At each area, use a circular motion to feel the
  breast

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When to Contact Your Doctor

• Anytime you notice changes in your breasts
• Changes that continue even after your period is
  over
• Nipple discharge or skin changes
• Breast tenderness unrelated to your period
• Lump

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• Remember to schedule your annual screening
  Mammogram
• if youre 40
• or older!

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