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The process of doing a breast self exam is not difficult or painful. The hardest part is remembering to do it and then following through.
Remembering to do the exam is much easier if you are motivated to remember. My sisters are motivated to remember because I was diagnosed with Stage 2 Invasive Breast Cancer in January of this year (2008). That was pretty shocking because there is no cancer of any kind in either branch of our family tree. There is a lot of heart disease and Type II Diabetes in the family, but no cancer. Gone are the days of thinking, "I'm not vulnerable to cancer." My sisters went from no-risk to high-risk categories in one day because of me. Anyone is vulnerable.

Another motivation to remember is the fact that breast cancer is highly curable if it is caught in the early stages. We have all heard about the woman, or someone like her, who had a 66-pound tumor but let it grow and grow. One would think once that tumor got to a couple of pounds it would have been incredibly alarming and very uncomfortable. Think of a breast exam as being an insurance policy of sorts. When I bring my umbrella on a dark, cloudy day, it never rains; if I fail to bring the umbrella, I get drenched.
To learn how to palpitate your breasts, go to the experts. My surgeon, my oncologist, and my cancer survivor friends all recommend the Susan G. Komen website.
http://cms.komen.org/komen/Abo utBreastCancer/Resources/Inter activeTools/BreastSelf-Exam/in dex.htm This link demonstrates how to do the exam as well as other changes women (and even men) should be aware of for healthy breasts. Also keep in mind that there are breast cancers that never show up in a mammogram.
Following through is tricky, but it has gotten easier. There are free services that will send a monthly email to remind you to perform the BSE. In an Internet search, I found 63,000 possible reminder services in .69 seconds. Like taking the time to buckle a car seat belt, it really does not get easier than that to protect yourself.
If you find something during the exam, do not panic. Many women have cysts and others have very fibrous breasts. Be sure to have that annual mammogram without fail. I had a clean mammogram two years before my diagnosis, but my husband's job changed, and like 45 million Americans, we were without insurance after that. Finding a tender spot in my breast and knowing I had no insurance was terrifying.
If you do not have health insurance, there are programs out there that can help like the National Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program (BCCEDP). This program saved my life, and it could help you or someone you love.

Learn more about this author, Lisa Kahookele.
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