Self Exams for Women

Health care for women not only happens in the doctor's office, but also at home! There are a few self exams women can do at home to check for abnormalities that may indicate cancer or other conditions.

The breast self exam is one exam every woman needs to do each month. The breast self exam is very simple and takes only a few moments to do. During a BSE, a woman is looking for changes in the breast that may indicate breast cancer. Remember, breast cancer symptoms include more than just lumps!

Another self exam a woman should perform each month is the vulvar self exam. During a vulvar self exam, a woman examines the vulva for any abnormalities like moles, rashes, and lesions that may be caused by cancer or other conditions.

These monthly self exams may lead to early detection of cancer. The earlier cancer is found, the better the survival rate.

_{Photo by Anthony Burns}