Find a Buddy – Choose a family member, friend, or co-worker.
Mark Your Calendar – On the 3rd of each month, mark your calendar as a reminder for Buddy Check 3.
Call your Buddy – Remind each other to do your breast self-exam.
If you find a lump or any other suspicious sign, contact your physician as soon as possible.
What to look for:
Breast Lump or thickening
Bleeding or discharge from the nipple
Change in breast shape or contour
Dimpling or puckering of the skin
Inflamed, reddish appearance of the breast
Doctor’s Visit
A physician should check a breast lump or any other suspicious sign as soon as possible. Three-fourths of all breast lumps are benign. If a lump does turn out to be cancer, early diagnosis and treatment give women the best possible chance for a cure. In addition to seeing a physician to investigate symptoms of breast cancer, a woman should undergo a routine physical breast examination with her doctor.
American Cancer Society’s guidelines for monthly self-breast exams:
Clinical breast exams every three years for women 20-40 years of age
Clinical breast exams every year for women 40 years and older
