Skip to main navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer For Medicare For Providers For Brokers For Employers Español For Individuals & Families: For Individuals & Families
Shop for Plans

Shop for Plans
Shop for your own coverage
Medical Dental Other Supplemental
Plans through your employer

Learn about the medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral, and voluntary benefits your employer may offer.

Explore coverage through work
Learn
How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics
Looking for Medicare coverage?
Shop for Medicare plans
Member Guide
Find a Doctor
Medical Dental Other Supplemental Explore coverage through work How to Buy Health Insurance Types of Dental Insurance Open Enrollment vs. Special Enrollment See all topics Shop for Medicare plans Member Guide Find a Doctor Log in to myCigna
Home Knowledge Center Wellness Library Breast Self-Awareness

Breast Self-Awareness

Test Overview

Experts recommend that you be aware of how your breasts normally look and feel.footnote 1 This is called breast self-awareness. It can help you notice any changes. Many breast problems are first discovered at home. Breast lumps can be noncancerous or cancerous. Talk to your doctor if you notice any changes.

Lumps or changes also may be signs of other breast conditions, such as mastitis or a fibroadenoma.

How often you check your breasts and how you check them is up to you. Unlike with regular breast self-exams, you don't have to follow a specific schedule or step-by-step check of your breasts.

Medical experts don't recommend regular breast self-exams for those with average risk for breast cancer.footnote 1 Studies show that regular breast self-exams don't reduce deaths from breast cancer. And self-exams may lead to unnecessary tests (like a biopsy).footnote 2 But some experts may recommend breast self-exams for those with higher risk for breast cancer.footnote 3

How It Is Done

How It Is Done

To help you be aware of changes in your breasts, you can feel them for any lumps or pain. You can also look for other changes, such as redness or a change in the skin's usual color or nipple discharge. How you do this and how often is up to you.

If you choose to check your breasts, the best time to do it is usually 1 week after your menstrual period starts. Your breasts are less likely to be swollen or tender at this time. If you don't have periods, you can check your breasts at any time that's best for you. Talk to your doctor if you have concerns or notice any changes.

You still need regular screening tests such as mammograms or breast exams by your doctor even if you check your own breasts. Your doctor can help you decide when to do screenings.

Next steps

If you notice any changes to the normal look and feel of your breasts, have them checked by a doctor. Changes may include:

  • Any new lump. It may or may not be painful to touch.
  • Unusual thick areas.
  • Discharge from your nipples if you aren't breastfeeding.
  • Any changes in the skin of your breasts or nipples, such as puckering or dimpling.
  • Redness or a change in the skin's usual color.
  • An unusual increase in the size of one breast.
  • One breast unusually lower than the other.

Remember that most breast problems or changes are caused by something other than cancer.

References

References

Citations

  1. Oeffinger KC, et al. (2015). Breast cancer screening for women at average risk 2015 guideline update from the American Cancer Society. JAMA, 314(15): 1599–1614. DOI: 10.1001/jama.2015.12783. Accessed January 21, 2016.
  2. Thomas DB, et al. (2002). Randomized trial of breast self-examination in Shanghai: Final results. Journal of the National Cancer Institute, 94(19): 1445–1457. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/94.19.1445. Accessed March 7, 2023.
  3. Daly MB, et al. (2021). Genetic/familial high-risk assessment: Breast, ovarian, and pancreatic, version 2.2021, NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology. Journal of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, 19(1): 77–102. DOI: 10.6004/jnccn.2021.0001. Accessed March 6, 2023.

This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated, disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information. Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use. Learn how we develop our content.

To learn more about Healthwise, visit Healthwise.org.

© 1995-2023 Healthwise, Incorporated. Healthwise, Healthwise for every health decision, and the Healthwise logo are trademarks of Healthwise, Incorporated.

Related Links

Breast Cancer

<cipublic-spinner variant="large"><span>Loading…</span></cipublic-spinner>

Page Footer

I want to...

Get an ID card File a claim View my claims and EOBs Check coverage under my plan See prescription drug list Find an in-network doctor, dentist, or facility Find a form Find 1095-B tax form information View the Cigna Glossary Contact Cigna

Audiences

Individuals and Families Medicare Employers Brokers Providers

Secure Member Sites

myCigna member portal Health Care Provider portal Cigna for Employers Client Resource Portal Cigna for Brokers

The Cigna Group Information

About Cigna Healthcare Company Profile Careers Newsroom Investors Suppliers The Cigna Group Third Party Administrators International Evernorth

 Cigna. All rights reserved.

Privacy Legal Product Disclosures Cigna Company Names Customer Rights Accessibility Non-Discrimination Notice Language Assistance [PDF] Report Fraud Sitemap Cookie Settings

Disclaimer

Individual and family medical and dental insurance plans are insured by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (CHLIC), Cigna HealthCare of Arizona, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Illinois, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of Georgia, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of North Carolina, Inc., Cigna HealthCare of South Carolina, Inc., and Cigna HealthCare of Texas, Inc. Group health insurance and health benefit plans are insured or administered by CHLIC, Connecticut General Life Insurance Company (CGLIC), or their affiliates (see a listing of the legal entities that insure or administer group HMO, dental HMO, and other products or services in your state). Accidental Injury, Critical Illness, and Hospital Care plans or insurance policies are distributed exclusively by or through operating subsidiaries of Cigna Corporation, are administered by Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company, and are insured by either (i) Cigna Health and Life Insurance Company (Bloomfield, CT); (ii) Life Insurance Company of North America (“LINA”) (Philadelphia, PA); or (iii) New York Life Group Insurance Company of NY (“NYLGICNY”) (New York, NY), formerly known as Cigna Life Insurance Company of New York. The Cigna name, logo, and other Cigna marks are owned by Cigna Intellectual Property, Inc. LINA and NYLGICNY are not affiliates of Cigna.

All insurance policies and group benefit plans contain exclusions and limitations. For availability, costs and complete details of coverage, contact a licensed agent or Cigna sales representative. This website is not intended for residents of New Mexico.

Selecting these links will take you away from Cigna.com to another website, which may be a non-Cigna website. Cigna may not control the content or links of non-Cigna websites. Details