Can I Get Checked for Breast Cancer Before I Have Symptoms?

You have a better chance of surviving breast cancer if your doctor finds and treats it early. The best way to detect breast cancer early is to be screened regularly. This isn’t possible for many cancers, but it is with breast cancer. Screening, however, doesn’t guarantee that you won’t get cancer or die from it, especially if it’s found after symptoms develop.

What Does Screening for Breast Cancer Involve?

Screening for breast cancer includes a combination of breast self-exams (BSE), clinical breast exams (CBE), and mammography. These three can complement each other, improving your chances of catching cancer early. Although BSE is helpful, its role in detecting cancer early is limited. Here are descriptions of each.

• Breast Self-Exam (BSE). A BSE is when you use your own hands to feel your breasts for unusual lumps. Ask your doctor for instructions on how to do this correctly. It’s normal for your breasts to feel a little lumpy or uneven, especially if you’re pregnant, going through menopause, or taking birth control pills or hormones. They also may feel tender during your period. Be aware of what your breasts normally feel like, whether or not you do monthly BSE. That can help you know when to tell your doctor about a change. 

• Clinical Breast Exam (CBE). Your doctor or other healthcare professional performs a CBE. First you remove your clothes from the waist up. Then your doctor looks to see if your breasts have changed in any way, such as in shape or size. As you sit and lie down in different positions, the doctor feels for any lumps. If your doctor feels a lump, you may need other tests.

• Mammography. A mammogram is a special kind of X-ray used to help find breast tumors before symptoms of cancer appear. During the test, your breast is placed between two metal plates that flatten and spread the tissue. Low levels of radiation are used to take a picture of the inside of your breast. Some facilities have digital mammography, which displays results on a computer, rather than on film. The test can be slightly uncomfortable, but it only lasts a few moments.If you’re still getting your period, you may want to schedule your mammogram for a time after your period. Menstruation can cause breast tenderness, which may make you more uncomfortable during the test. For more details about what’s involved with this test, see How Does My Doctor Know I Have Breast Cancer?

  A mammogram detects tumors and calcium deposits in the breast. Most calcium deposits are benign. However, a cluster of very tiny specks of calcium, called microcalcifications, can be an early sign of breast cancer. If your mammogram shows anything abnormal, you may need more tests.

  Although a mammogram is the best way to find breast cancer early, it may not always detect cancer. And sometimes a mammogram may detect an abnormality that turns out not to be cancer, called a false positive. Some people worry about the radiation. But the radiation levels are about the same as those you’d be exposed to during a flight from New York to California.