Breast Cancer Symptoms & Causes

How to Perform a Breast Self-Examination (BSE)

Breast self-examination (BSE) is a procedure a woman can do to physically and visually examine her breasts and underarm areas for changes. It has not been shown that BSEs alone can accurately determine the presence of breast cancer. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force has found evidence that suggests BSEs do not lower the risk for death from breast cancer. Therefore, if you choose to do BSE, it should not be used in place of, but in addition to, clinical breast examination (performed by a health care provider every three years for women in their 20s and 30s, and every year for women ages 40 and older) and mammography.

About Breast Cancer in Men

Breast cancer in men is rare - less than 1 percent of all breast carcinomas occur in men. Consider the latest statistics available from the American Cancer Society:

• The American Cancer Society estimates that in 2009 some 1,910 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed among men in the US.

• Breast cancer is about 100 times more common among women.

• Estimates for 2009 also indicate that there will be more than 40,610 deaths from breast cancer in the US (40,170 women, 440 men).

• The average age at diagnosis is 67, although men of all ages can be affected with the disease.