If something feels off, it’s important to pay attention.
Messaging around breast self-exams has changed in recent years. Instead of focusing on a monthly self-exam, we want patients to be aware of changes in their breasts and get regular screening mammograms as recommended by their provider.
As a breast surgical oncologist, I can assure you there’s a good reason for this.
Self-exams can lead to stressful false alarms and potentially unnecessary biopsies, but more importantly, they aren’t enough. A lump felt on a self-exam is often already the size of a walnut. That’s why getting an annual imaging screening based on your provider’s recommendations is essential — they spot tumors while they’re still small and easier to treat.
While mammography is our gold standard, paying attention to your body is also important. It helps you notice changes and seek care promptly.
The idea is to know what’s normal for you and recognize when something seems different.
Things to watch for include a lump or thick area in the breast or underarm, changes in breast size or shape, nipple changes, including inversion and discharge, and persistent pain in one spot. Also, keep an eye on your skin — dimpling, puckering, redness, or scaling can signal a problem.
What should you do if you notice changes?
First, please don’t panic. Most of the time, it isn’t cancer. However, that doesn’t mean you should ignore it. Contact your provider so we can evaluate your symptoms and guide you through your next steps.
Your provider might order a diagnostic mammogram. This focuses on the area of concern and provides more detailed images than a screening mammogram. Some patients may also need a breast ultrasound or MRI.
A breast ultrasound can determine if your lump is solid and potentially a cause for concern, or a harmless fluid-filled cyst. Breast MRI creates a more detailed image of the breast or area
of concern, but it is not necessarily better than a mammogram or ultrasound.
If imaging shows something suspicious, a biopsy is the only way to confirm whether it’s cancer.
Before a biopsy, you’ll need to avoid certain medicines, like blood thinners, for a short time.
During the biopsy, the area is numbed. You may feel pressure, but no pain, as your doctor uses a needle or small incision to take a tiny tissue sample. The test usually takes less than an hour, and you go home the same day. Results are usually ready in a few days.
If a patient is diagnosed with cancer, we offer a comprehensive range of medical and surgical oncology treatments, developing treatment plans tailored to the biology of the patient’s tumor and their personal goals. Remember, 99% of patients with breast cancer isolated to the breast are alive at five years.
The key is catching breast cancer early, and the best way to do that is through regular screening and being alert to changes in your body.
You aren’t powerless against breast cancer! By following through on your mammograms and talking to your provider about changes in your breasts, you can protect your health.
Ashley Hendrix, MD, FACS, is a breast surgical oncologist at Regional One Health. She sees patients at the Main Campus, 880 Madison Avenue, and the East Campus, 6555 Quince Road. For appointments with Dr. Hendrix, call 901.515.HOPE (4673). For mammograms, call 877.378.1830 or simply walk in at the East Campus.
By Ashley Hendrix, MD, FACS
