Clinical Breast Examination

Breast Examination, Clinical

Test Overview

A clinical breast examination (CBE) is a physical examination of the breast done by a health professional. Clinical breast examinations are used along with mammograms to check women for breast cancer. Clinical breast examinations are also used to check for other breast problems.

Medical experts disagree about the need for regular clinical breast examinations. Some doctors recommend regular CBE. However, studies do not show support for or against regular CBE. Some studies show that mammogram tests alone reduce breast cancer deaths just as well as using mammograms and CBE.

A clinical breast examination may be part of your regular checkup. Every Canadian province and territory has a breast cancer screening program, and guidelines in your area may differ slightly. Talk with your health professional about how often you need a breast examination.

Breast implants do not change a woman's chance of getting breast cancer, so women with breast implants should also have regular clinical breast examinations.

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Author:	Carrie Henley Jan Nissl, RN, BS	Last Updated: June 12, 2006
Medical Review:	Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Joy Melnikow, MD, MPH - Family Medicine Deborah A. Penava, BA, MD, FRCSC, MPH - Obstetrics and Gynecology
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