Breast self exam (BSE) is an option for women starting in their 20s.

Women should
be told about the benefits and limitations of BSE. Women should report any breast
changes to their health professional right away.
Research has shown that BSE plays a small role in finding breast cancer compared
with finding a breast lump by chance or simply being aware of what is normal for
each woman. Some women feel very comfortable doing BSE regularly (usually
monthly after their period) which involves a systematic step-by-step approach to
examining the look and feel of their breasts. Other women are more comfortable
simply looking and feeling their breasts in a less systematic approach, such as while
showering or getting dressed or doing an occasional thorough exam. Sometimes,
women are so concerned about "doing it right" that they become stressed over the
technique. Doing BSE regularly is one way for women to know how their breasts
normally look and feel and to notice any changes. The goal, with or without BSE, is
to report any breast changes to a doctor or nurse right away.
Women who choose to do BSE should have their BSE technique reviewed during
their physical exam by a health professional. It is okay for women to choose not to do
BSE or not to do it on a regular schedule. However, by doing the exam regularly, you
get to know how your breasts normally look and feel and you can more readily detect
any signs or symptoms if a change occurs, such as development of a lump or
swelling, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction (turning inward),
redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk.
Should you notice any changes you should see your health care provider as soon as
possible for evaluation. Remember that most of the time, however, these breast
changes are not cancer.

What are the key statistics about breast

cancer?
Breast cancer is the most common cancer among American women, except for skin
cancers. About 1 in 8 (12%) women in the US will develop invasive breast cancer during
their lifetime.
The American Cancer Society's estimates for breast cancer in the United States are for
2013:
About 232,340 new cases of invasive breast cancer will be diagnosed in women.
About 64,640 new cases of carcinoma in situ (CIS) will be diagnosed (CIS is noninvasive
and is the earliest form of breast cancer).
About 39,620 women will die from breast cancer
american cancer society (2012) memperkirakan pada tahun 2013 di Amerika akan ditemukan
232.340 kasus baru untuk kanker payudara invasive, 64.640 kasus baru untuk kanker payudara
noninvasive, dan 39.620 perempuan akan meninggal akibat kanker payudara.
After increasing for more than 2 decades, female breast cancer incidence rates began
decreasing in 2000, then dropped by about 7% from 2002 to 2003. This large decrease
was thought to be due to the decline in use of hormone therapy after menopause that
occurred after the results of the Women's Health Initiative were published in 2002. This
study linked the use of hormone therapy to an increased risk of breast cancer and heart

diseases. Incidence rates have been stable in recent years.

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer death in women, exceeded only by
lung cancer. The chance that breast cancer will be responsible for a woman's death is
about 1 in 36 (about 3%). Death rates from breast cancer have been declining since about
1989, with larger decreases in women younger than 50. These decreases are believed to
be the result of earlier detection through screening and increased awareness, as well as
improved treatment.
At this time there are more than 2.9 million breast cancer survivors in the United States.
(This includes women still being treated and those who have completed treatment.)
Survival rates are discussed in the section How is breast cancer staged?
American Cancer Society. Breast Cancer. 26 Februari 2013
Di negara berkembang, SADARI dinyatakan sebagai intervensi yang mudah, murah, non invasif,
tidak berbahaya, mudah diterima, dan tepat. ( Al-Naggar RA, Al-Naggar, Bobryshev YV, Chen
R, Assabri A. Practice and Barriers Toward Breast Self-Examination Among Young Malaysian
Women. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention. Vol 12, 2011)

Penelitian yang dilakukan pada pasien kanker payudara di 9 rumah sakit umum di Alexandria,
didapatkan hasil bahwa pasien yang melakukan SADARI memiliki proporsi yang lebih tinggi untuk
terdiagnosis pada stadium dini (stadium I&II) (87,5%) dibanding dengan pasien yang tidak pernah
melakukan SADARI (52,5%).15 (Arini EP)