The Importance of At-Home Breast Exams

Published on: February 11, 2018

When was the last time you performed a breast exam on yourself? You may receive a breast exam at your annual visit with your OB/GYN, but that is not often enough to catch changes that many occur in the breast tissue that may alert you to breast cancer. You know your body better than anyone and it is important that you take the time to perform breast exams to detect any lumps or changes in your breasts. Here are some reasons why these quick and simple exams are so important to your health.

Early Cancer Detection Saves Lives

To put it simply, performing at-home breast exams can save your life. As with all types of cancer, early detection is critical in having the best chance of beating breast cancer. The quicker you notice a lump or change in the appearance of your breast, the sooner you can have it diagnosed. If it is cancer, you have better odds of successful treatment.

Once a Year is Not Enough

Breast cancer can begin at any moment. It could already be present, but undetectable, when you go in for your annual woman’s exam. Taking the time to do a thorough self-exam at least once a month can help you detect any changes as soon as they are noticeable. Plus, if you do exams regularly, you will be more likely to identify there is a change and get a more thorough diagnosis.

No one wants to contemplate the thought of getting breast cancer, but early detection is your best hope for surviving this disease. Talk to your OB/GYN about how to perform your at-home exams and what you should be looking for during your self-exams.

Posted on behalf of
Marietta OB-GYN Affiliates, P.A.
699 Church Street #220
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 422-8505

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