Breast Self-Examination

Self Breast Exam (SBE)

What Affects the Test

Reasons why the results may not be helpful include:

• Changes in your breasts or breast tenderness that occur during your menstrual cycle.
• Examining your breasts at different times in your menstrual cycle. This may make it difficult to compare results of one examination with those of another.
• Having fibrocystic lumps. These may make a breast self-examination difficult because lumps occur throughout the breast. The fibrocystic lumps can also become tender before your menstrual cycle.

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Author:	Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: April 11, 2007
Medical Review:	Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology Anne C. Poinier, MD - Internal Medicine
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