1. Regular breast exams, including clinical exams, breast self-exams, and mammograms can help detect breast cancer early by identifying changes in breast tissue. 2. The American Cancer Society recommends clinical breast exams every three years for women ages 20 to 40, and annually for women ages 40 and older. Starting at age 40, yearly mammograms are also recommended. 3. Between clinical exams and mammograms, women should perform monthly breast self-exams to become familiar with their normal breast tissue so any changes can be detected early. Contact a doctor if lumps, dimpling, nipple discharge or pain are noticed during self-exams.

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Health and wellness tips for your work, home
and life—brought to you by the insurance
specialists at The Gardner Group
Take Charge of Breast Health
Regular breast exams help detect cancer early
Breast exams are extremely 1. Lie down and place one arm taking birth control pills or other
behind your head. hormone therapy. However, if you
useful in detecting cancer notice changes at other times in
2. Use the pads of your middle
your life, it is strongly suggested
early. Clinical exams, breast three fingers on the
that you visit a doctor
opposite hand to check your
self-exams (BSEs) and immediately.
breast tissue in overlapping,
mammograms should be dime-sized circular motions. More in-depth information on how
to perform a BSE is available at
completed regularly so that 3. Use an up-and-down
ww5.komen.org. This website
pattern starting at your
also provides a Breast Self-
it’s possible to determine if underarm and moving all
Awareness Interactive Tool that
the way to the middle of
there are changes in breast you can view. Or, check out this
your breastbone to feel for
diagram on
tissue, indicating breast changes.
www.breastcancer.org, which
4. Standing with your hands illustrates how to perform a
cancer or other potentially
on your hips, look in a thorough self-exam.
harmful conditions. mirror for changes in size,
shape, contour or coloring
Clinical Exams and of your breasts.
Mammograms
Breast Tissue Changes
The American Cancer Society
recommends clinical breast Contact your doctor if you notice
exams every three years for any of the following changes to
women between 20 and 40, and your breast or nipple tissue while
annually for women 40 and older. doing a BSE:
Starting at age 40, healthy  Lumps
women should have yearly
mammograms.  Dimpling, red or scaly
skin
Performing Self-Exams  Nipple discharge or pain
In between clinical exams and It is normal for breast tissue to
mammograms, women should change during menstrual cycles,
complete BSEs to become familiar pregnancy, menopause, or while
with the look and feel of their
breasts when healthy, so that
changes can be detected as early
Did You Know...?
as possible. Breast cancer is the seventh leading cause of death for women
The American Cancer Society in the United States.
recommends the following steps
for conducting a BSE:
This brochure is for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For further information, please consult a medical professional.
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