Introduction
Monthly
breast self-examination (BSE) includes both looking and feeling over the entire breast and chest area. Women should use the pads, not the tips, of the three middle fingers when performing BSE. The time required to perform the exam varies with the size and features of a woman's breasts but usually only takes about 15 to 20 minutes each month.
Women should be sure to examine the breasts in the same manner each month, check the entire breast and armpit area, and remember how the breasts feel from month to month. Some women prefer to keep a small diary of their monthly
breast self-exams.