Clinical breast exams are exams completed by a healthcare provider to screen for breast cancer. These are typically done once a year at your annual exam.
What Happens During a Clinical Breast Exam
During your breast exam, your provider will visually inspect the breast tissue for any changes to the skin like rashes or texture changes.
The provider will also palpate or touch all areas of the breast tissue to feel for lumps or areas that cause pain.
This will be completed systematically on both breasts to be sure there are no areas of concern.
It is always important to notify your provider of any new breast changes or lumps.
Self-Breast Exams at Home
Although clinical breast exams are an important part of annual screening, most breast changes and lumps are found by patients themselves.
No one knows your breast tissue better than you. You will feel subtle changes in the tissue well before someone who only checks your breasts once a year.
In the best case scenario, you should check your breasts for lumps or changes once a month.
Don’t check for lumps on or near your period. Breasts can be naturally lumpy during that time.
You’re feeling for any changes in breast tissue that are different for you.
You are also looking for a rash on the breast tissue that does not go away or breast tissue that looks like an orange peel.
What Happens If Something Is Found
If your provider feels a breast lump or area of concern, the next steps depend on your age. If you are under age 35, you will likely have an ultrasound ordered as the first step to evaluate what the lump may be. Over age 35, you will have a mammogram ordered as well.
The next steps in evaluation and management will be managed by the breast experts.
Breast Exam Screening in Greensboro and Across North Carolina
Haven Health provides annual clinical breast exams in Greensboro, North Carolina and coordinates care for patients across the state through telehealth and local imaging centers.
Patients from Greensboro, High Point, Jamestown, Oak Ridge, Summerfield, Kernersville, and surrounding Guilford County communities trust Haven Health for preventive, patient-centered reproductive and breast health care.
If you live anywhere in Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Raleigh, Durham, Asheville, Wilmington, or anywhere in NC, Haven Health can help coordinate imaging such as ultrasounds or mammograms and send orders to a facility near you when needed.
Haven Health is committed to early detection, education, and empowering patients to understand and monitor their own breast health.