Duke Medicine: Touch your breasts

There, we said it. We want you to touch your breasts because research shows that performing regular self-breast exams is one way you can take charge of your health and possibly find a breast lump.

If you're a women in your 20s or older, the American Cancer Society encourages you to use a systematic, step-by-step approach to analyze the look and feel of your breasts regularly – ideally monthly after you menstruate. Performing the exam on a regular basis will make it easier for you to get to know how your breasts, and detect any changes if and when they occur. That's the ultimate goal: to be on the lookout for any changes in your breasts and report them right away to your health care provider. (Fortunately, most lumps are not cancer, but clinicians can help you determine if they are).

Reviewed by Kathy Trotter, DNP, Duke Cancer Institute