A clinical breast examination (CBE) is a physical examination of the breasts by a doctor or nurse practitioner during an annual medical check-up or in addition to a mammography, ultrasound or breast MRI appointment. A trained professional may detect changes in the breast that are difficult to detect by self-examination.
Evidence about CBE
There is no direct scientific evidence that CBE reduces breast cancer death rates – no trials have studied CBE alone without mammography. CBE is complementary to screening mammography – it does not replace it. Studies of CBE in the context of an organized breast cancer screening program show that CBE by a trained health care provider, in addition to mammography, makes a slight contribution to the breast cancer detection rate, but at the cost of a sharp increase in false positive rates. For this reason, some organized breast cancer screening programs are no longer offering CBE as a part of their service.
Deciding if CBE is right for you
To make an informed decision about what is right for you, the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation encourages you to learn about the benefits and limitations of CBE. A regular check-up with a health care provider can be a good opportunity for you to discuss your breast health, including any unusual breast changes, your risk for breast cancer, and screening for the earlier detection of breast cancer.
Breast health discussion points for you and your health care provider
Any breast changes or concerns (e.g., pain, discharge, lumps, etc.).
Your risk factors for breast cancer (family history, smoking, etc.) and lifestyle changes you can make to try to reduce your risk.
Benefits and limitations of CBE.
Your options for breast cancer screening.
The Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation also encourages women and men to be breast aware know how your breasts normally look and feel, know what changes to look for, and discuss any unusual breast changes with a health care provider.
More Information:
Sources
Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation – Ontario Region. (2010). Earlier Detection and Diagnosis of Breast Cancer: A Report from It’s About Time! A Consensus Conference.