Breast Self-Examination
Breast Exams
Fortunately, there are effective ways for women to detect breast cancer early, while it is most treatable.
Breast Self Examination
One option that women can do themselves is a monthly Breast Self Examination. It doesn’t require any equipment, just a little time each month.
Clinical Breast Examination
Women should also get a thorough breast examination annually by their gynecologist or health care provider. Tell your health care provider if you notice anything different about your breasts.
If you’d like hands-on instruction on how to perform a Breast Self Examination, your healthcare provider can show at this time.
Mammograms and Other Imaging Exams
There are additional tests that can be performed using special equipment that provides a radiologist with images of the breast tissue. The radiologist examines the images, looking for abnormalities that may indicate cancer.
The initial imaging exam to check for breast cancer is a mammogram. This suffices for most women. However, if something abnormal is seen on your initial mammogram, your radiologist will want to perform an additional test to determine the cause of the abnormality. There are several reasons why a mammogram can have an abnormal result – it is usually not cancer.
When studying your annual mammogram, it is very helpful for the radiologist to have previous mammograms available for reference. We highly recommend that you bring your past mammogram images with you to your appointment, particularly if they were not done at an INVISION or Sally Jobe imaging center.
Following are the exams used to image the breast:
Film//Digital Mammogram
A mammogram, either film or digital, is the initial imaging exam used to screen the general population of women for breast cancer. X-ray images show variations in breast tissue that can help a radiologist identify abnormal tissue. Screening mammography is recommended for all women every year beginning at age 40. Although mammograms, like many medical exams, are not 100% accurate, they are the best imaging method available today for finding breast cancer early.
Breast Ultrasound
A breast ultrasound uses sound waves to image the breast. A breast ultrasound is usually performed to further analyze an abnormality seen on a mammogram. They are also used to image lumps that can be felt. Breast ultrasounds can help determine the need for a biopsy or additional testing.
Breast ultrasound is currently not recommended for breast cancer screening in the general population. It is not covered by insurance as a screening exam and will require a charge if desired for the purpose of screening. INVISION is currently participating in a clinical trial that is analyzing the effectiveness of ultrasound screening in high risk women. You can read more about the ACRIN Screening Breast Ultrasound in High Risk Women trial and contact us if you would like to participate.
Breast MRI
An MRI exam is performed on women who have a suspicious breast lump or have been told they have breast cancer. It can help determine the best type of surgery by showing the extent of the cancer. At INVISION, we use a type of MRI called VIBRANT that can image both breasts during a single appointment.
A breast MRI may also be used on women who may need additional imaging after standard imaging exams (mammography and ultrasound) are done. This would be determined by the radiologist and your physician. Breast MRI is currently not recommending as a screening exam for the general population of women. It may be helpful in patients with a strong family history of breast cancer.
Breast Biopsy
A breast biopsy removes a small amount of the abnormal breast tissue for analysis by a pathologist. Breast cancer can not be definitively identified unless a biopsy is performed.
There are now non-surgical biopsy techniques that make a reliable diagnosis with much smaller tissue samples. These minimally invasive biopsy techniques were developed by INVISION radiologists and have been accepted for breast biopsies nationwide.
The Effectiveness of Screening Exams
Performing a Breast Self Examination (BSE) regularly is important. 90% of breast lumps are found by the woman herself (80% of lumps turn out to be benign).
It’s also important to get a mammogram. They are an important screening tool in finding breast cancer early and can detect lumps before they can be felt. Mammography has been shown to decrease mortality (death) from breast cancer if done annually in women who are 40 and older.
The following chart illustrates the importance of performing regular BSEs and getting mammograms annually. Women who adhere to these guidelines find breast lumps when they are significantly smaller, while the cancer is most treatable.
Exam Frequency Guidelines
Following are the general guidelines for the frequency with which women of different ages should get breast screening exams.
| Teens to Age 40 | Age 40 and Older | |
|---|---|---|
Breast Self Examination |
Monthly | Monthly |
Clinical Breast Examination |
Annually | Annually |
Mammogram |
Only if you have a first degree relative with breast cancer* | Annually, beginning at age 40 |
* If you have a first-degree relative with breast cancer, begin annual mammography 10 years prior to her age of diagnosis or at age 40, whichever comes first.
