Breast cancer is an ongoing battle that thousands of women fight every day. In fact, it’s the most common cancer around the world. According to BreastCancer.org, a nonprofit organization providing education and resources for those afflicted by the disease, about 13 percent of women (1 in 8) in the U.S. are going to develop invasive breast cancer in their lifetime. Self breast exams are something we can easily do at home to check in with our breasts each month and become aware of any possible changes. Here, leading OB/GYNs discuss the importance of breast exams and breast awareness, as well as how to do a self breast exam at home.
Featured Experts:
- Carolyn Delucia, MD, a board-certified OB/GYN based in New Jersey, and founder of The Secret Orchid
- Stephanie Hack, MD a board-certified OB/GYN based in Washington, D.C., and founder of Lady Parts Doctor
Why Are Self Breast Exams Important?
“Self breast exams have received vary reviews in the medical literature questioning their value,” says New York OBGYN Carolyn Delucia, MD. “However, I have seen many women who identified their own breast mass by doing their monthly self exam. I think women should use all the tools we have at our ‘fingertips’ in order to detect breast cancer as early as possible: mammogram, self breast exam and physician exam. I always say, ‘Early detection is our only protection.’” Dr. Hack recommends beginning self breast exams at age 18 to become more comfortable with your body. “But, many other doctors and experts suggest starting them in your 20s.”
How to Determine Your Risk for Breast Cancer
First and foremost, discuss your health and family health history with your OB/GYN and/or primary care doctor. They will provide the most accurate assessment, taking your personal information into account. According to the BREM Foundation, “several factors that increase estrogen exposure carry an increased risk of breast cancer, to varying degrees.” Some of these include early menstruation before age 12, later menopause after the age of 55, and the use of hormone therapy, among others.
Some races and ethnicities have a higher risk for breast cancer as well. BREM reports that African American women are 40 percent more likely to die from breast cancer than white women. “This massive disparity is caused by many factors, including access issues, systemic barriers and biology. Black women are diagnosed at younger ages with aggressive, harder-to-treat cancers, including Triple Negative Breast Cancer.” Ashkenazi Jewish women also have higher rates of breast cancer. They have higher rates of gene mutations (BRCA1 or BRCA2), too.
Dr. DeLucia says certain lifestyle factors can increase your risk for breast cancer (and other cancers) as well. “These include using alcohol, tobacco and being overweight.” BREM offers a free short quiz that can help determine your risk of breast cancer, and will email your results.
Do I Still Need to Do Monthly Exams If I am Average-Risk?
Dr. Hack says the current guidelines from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) and the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) emphasize the importance of breast self-awareness rather than breast self-examination for average-risk women. “Breast self-awareness as a woman’s awareness of the normal appearance and feel of her breasts,” she explains. “This is different from breast self-examination, which involves systematic and regular checks specifically for breast cancer detection. Breast self-awareness encourages women to know their breasts. That way, they are attuned to noticing any changes or potential problems with them.”
Does Breast Density Matter?
Yes. According to Dr. DeLucia, breast density is determined during a mammogram, and many women have dense breasts. “This means there is more fibroglandular tissue and less fatty tissue.” In fact, BREM says about 50 percent of women over age 40 have dense breast tissue. “Dense tissue carries a higher risk for breast cancer and hides cancers on mammograms.”
What Time of the Month Should You Perform a Self Breast Exam?
Dr. Hack says the best time to conduct a self-breast exam is about a week after your period starts. “This timing is recommended because the breasts are less likely to be swollen or tender post-period,” she explains. “This can make the examination less uncomfortable and allow for clearer detection of any possible changes. For women who do not menstruate, choosing a consistent day each month is advisable.”
How to Perform a Self Breast Exam at Home
According to BreastCancer.org, these are the five steps to follow at home. And to help make the experience better, Colleen Rothschild Beauty created a product called “Breast” Friend Self-Exam Butter. “About seven years ago, I had a breast cancer scare,” founder Colleen Rothschild says. “I was doing self-exam, and I found something unusual. I thought, I’m going to go for a mammogram. They found two suspicious clusters, which was intense.”
Rothschild ended up having a lumpectomy, but the results came back benign. “The lesson I learned though, was that it’s so important to do those exams and get mammograms,” she continues. “This butter contains really nourishing oils, as well as shea butter and bacuri butter. When you’re doing your self-exam, it helps you with the slip and slide and glide across your breasts. You want your hand to be able to move smoothly. I love the fresh, feminine, floral scent, too. Also, as a woman-owned business, I love to make products that help other women.”
