BSE should be done once a month, a few days after the last day of your period. If you no longer get your period, do BSE on the same day each month. Clinical breast exam is performed by a trained medical professional who carefully checks your breasts for any changes in order to detect any lumps that may be present. Many women have a clinical breast exam performed at their yearly gynecologist appointment. Women should have a clinical breast exam at least every 3 years between the ages of 20 and 40 and every year after 40.
Mammograms are x-ray pictures of the breast.
They can detect breast cancer in its earliest stages, even before a lump can be felt. All women 40 and older should have a mammogram every year. If you are younger than 40 and feel that you are at a higher risk for breast cancer, talk to a trained medical professional about when you should begin having mammograms. Most women have more than one known risk factor for developing breast cancer, yet will never get the disease. Simply being a woman.