Breast Cancer Screening and Diagnosis
Our Cancer Institute strongly encourages you to follow the American Cancer Society's (ACS) guidelines for breast cancer screening including:
- Breast Self-Exam (BSE) is a self check-up you can perform in private and on a regular basis to know how your breasts normally look and feel and to detect any changes. ACS recommends that you discuss with your health care provider whether or not a self-exam is beneficial for you and to learn the proper techniques.
- Clinical Breast Examination (CBE) is a routine examination by your health care provider who looks for changes or abnormalities of the breasts, nipples and under both arms to detect lumps or changes in size, shape, texture or skin.
- Screening Mammogram is an X-ray picture of the breast to check for breast cancer in women who have no signs or symptoms of the disease. A screening mammogram usually involves two X-ray images of each breast, which may detect tumors that cannot be felt. Screening mammograms can also find tiny deposits of calcium that may indicate breast cancer. Early detection of breast cancer with screening mammography means that treatment can be started earlier and before the disease spreads.
