Should women performed breast self-exams?
Women may perform breast self exams to help detect changes in their breasts to call to their physicians’ attention. Performing regular breast self exams can help women become familiar with the individual characteristics of their breasts and notice any changes. Many women find that performing a self exam a few days to one week after their periods is easiest because the breasts are least tender and swollen. In recent years, organizations such as the American Cancer Society have changed their positions, no longer recommending that women perform self exams on a monthly basis. This decision was made after several studies revealed that the exams do not increase the chances that women will survive breast cancer. Despite the change in position, the American Cancer Society and other organizations suggest that self exams can be performed to help detect changes in the breasts to call to a physician’s attention.
